Morocco: Opposition advances La Samir nationalization and fuel price bills

Despite the government's firm opposition, the opposition parties and trade unions last week succeeded in advancing seven draft laws that had been stalled in the House of Councillors since 2022. Among them were two bills submitted by the Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT): one calling for the transfer of the assets of oil refinery company La Samir to the Moroccan state, and another aimed at regulating fuel prices.

The proposals were approved by just six members, all from opposition and union ranks, in the absence of representatives from the governing majority. The only exception was committee chairman Moulay Messaoud Agnaou of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).

The bills are now expected to continue their legislative journey in the upper house and could be scheduled for debate during a future plenary session.

According to corroborating sources, the passage of the proposals has exposed tensions within the governing coalition. The same sources pointed to the «deliberate» absence of several majority lawmakers from the session, linking it to the increasingly charged atmosphere surrounding a potential early election campaign.