The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has announced its support for its Moroccan affiliate, the Moroccan National Press Union (SNPM), in calling for an «immediate review of the draft law» concerning the reorganization of the National Press Council (CNP). In a statement released on Thursday, the federation criticized the bill for «reducing the representation of journalists' organizations within the Council and disregarding the very principle of consultation». «The draft law, adopted by the House of Representatives in July 2025, is now being debated in Parliament. It seeks to redefine the role and mandate of the CNP, a self-regulatory body for the Moroccan press established in 2018», the IFJ explained. «It also proposes a new structure for the Council, reducing its members from 21 to 19». According to the SNPM, during its executive board meeting on September 27, several provisions of the bill were found to «undermine transparency, democracy, balance, and independence — the core principles of professional self-regulation». The union's stance is shared by numerous professional bodies, including the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FMEJ), the National Federation of Journalism, Information, and Communication (FENAJIC), several unions affiliated with the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), and the Democratic Labor Confederation (CDT). On October 22, a sit-in was held in Rabat, gathering more than 400 journalists to reiterate these demands. Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of the IFJ, reaffirmed the federation's support for Moroccan journalists, calling for «the withdrawal of the draft law or the postponement of its debate to bring it back to the negotiation table». He stressed the need for «a consensual text that aligns with the philosophy of the Moroccan Constitution and respects union plurality, representative equity, parity, and democratic principles».
