DR ‹ › The Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers has welcomed the Constitutional Court's decision to return Law No. 026.25, concerning the reorganization of the National Press Council, to the legislative process, thereby halting the government's attempt to enforce it as drafted. On Thursday, the Constitutional Court issued Decision No. 26/261 M.D, following a referral by opposition members of the House of Representatives, ruling that the law must be sent back to Parliament after finding that several of its provisions violated the Constitution. The Federation, which opposed the law from the outset, reiterated its rejection of what it described as the government's policy of domination and the undermining of self-regulation in the press sector. It recalled its participation in advocacy and protest initiatives against the legislation and praised opposition parliamentary groups for referring the law to the Court in response to calls from journalists' and publishers' organizations. Substantively, the Federation highlighted the Court's emphasis on the constitutional principles of pluralism, democracy, equality, and independence, stressing that these principles are binding and must guide any future revision of the text. It called on the government to fully redraft the law, taking into account criticisms previously raised by constitutional governance institutions and respecting Morocco's legislative framework for professional regulatory bodies. The Federation said the ruling urges the government and its parliamentary majority to assume their constitutional and political responsibilities and to reopen serious and inclusive dialogue with all professional organizations, without exclusion or attempts at control, in order to agree on a law that protects pluralism, freedom, and genuine self-regulation. In conclusion, it said the decision offers an opportunity to comprehensively rewrite the law and open a new phase for Moroccan journalism, amid the challenges facing the press sector, through urgent and constructive dialogue.
