A few days after journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui's statements, the provisional commission responsible for overseeing the press and publishing in Morocco faced its first resignation. Hamid Saadani, the news director at the public channel 2M, announced on social media the "suspension" of his mandate within the commission. This scandal, sending ripples into the media and the governing body, was discussed yesterday in the Chamber of Councillors. A parliamentarian from the Popular Movement questioned the head of government about the «immoral acts» Hamid El Mahdaoui said were transpiring in a meeting of the ethics committee and members of the provisional press commission. He also inquired Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch about the «secrecy» surrounding the government's intention to pass a bill reorganizing the National Press Council, which the parlimentarian claims «does not adhere to the democratic rules of professional representation». To recall, this controversial bill was adopted on July 22 by the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, with 87 votes in favor, 25 against and no abstentions. The government also enjoys a comfortable majority in the Chamber of Councillors for the approval of this text.
