Moroccan Newspaper Publishers renew opposition to government’s National Press Council draft law

The Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers has once again voiced its opposition to the government’s draft law on reorganizing the National Press Council, arguing that it runs counter to the Constitution, contradicts internationally recognized principles of self-regulation, and fails to reflect the democratic aspirations of the country.

This position was reaffirmed during the Federation's Executive Committee meeting, held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at its Casablanca headquarters, where members reviewed recent legal developments in the sector alongside internal organizational matters.

In its statement, the Federation stressed that it takes pride in the broad backing it has received from the professional community, human rights organizations, political forces, unions, associations, and former ministers of the sector in rejecting the proposed bill. It underscored that the government has isolated itself on this issue in the face of widespread professional and societal opposition to its unilateral approach.

The Federation also welcomed the openness shown by both the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council and the National Human Rights Council, which consulted professional organizations while preparing their advisory opinions on the draft law—an approach absent in the government’s handling of the proposal. It praised the Human Rights Council’s recommendations, particularly those concerning the composition of the council, balanced democratic representation of professionals, and the importance of grounding such laws in clear human rights references.

The Federation called on the House of Councillors, which is currently reviewing the draft law, to take these developments into account. It urged the government and the Ministry of Communication to revise the bill or return it to the negotiating table with professional stakeholders.

At the same time, the Federation reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated action with journalists’ unions and publishers’ associations, within the framework of joint initiatives to counter the bill and the unilateral decisions associated with it. It pledged to remain fully engaged in professional and civil efforts to oppose the draft, framing this as a defense of freedom of expression and democracy. It also announced plans to expand this movement to include regional organizations, in order to strengthen unity within the national journalistic community and curb fragmentation and division.