Morocco’s House of Representatives completed the formation of its leadership structures on Wednesday, electing members of its bureau and chairs of its nine permanent committees.
The sole list submitted for a vote received the support of 293 lawmakers out of the 295 who took part in the ballot, while two votes were annulled. The session was chaired by newly elected House Speaker Ahmed Touizi.
The vote on October 14 followed Touizi’s election as speaker a day earlier. He secured 220 votes, defeating Idriss El Azami El Idrissi, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) candidate, who received 59 votes in a ballot in which 369 lawmakers participated.
Mustapha Baitas, of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), was elected first deputy speaker, followed by Khalid Chennak of the Istiqlal parliamentary group as second deputy speaker and Abdellah Bouanou of the PJD as third deputy speaker. Mohamed Ouzzine, of the Popular Movement, was elected fourth deputy speaker.
Mohamed Mellal, of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), became fifth deputy speaker, while Mohamed Goudar, of the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group, was elected sixth. Meryem Ouahssate, of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), was elected seventh deputy speaker, and Adel El Bitar, of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), eighth.
The House also elected Amina Maelainine of the PJD and Houda El Maghari of PAM as its two treasurers. Fatima Zahra Basraoui of RNI, Mbarek Hamia of Istiqlal and Aziza Beddad of PAM were elected as the chamber’s three secretaries.
Nine permanent committees elect chairs
At the level of the permanent committees, Mohamed El Gharass of the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group was elected chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, Migration and Moroccans Living Abroad.
Moncef Ettoub of Istiqlal was elected chair of the Committee on the Interior, Territorial Communities, Housing, Urban Policy and Administrative Affairs.
Mohamed Ghayath of RNI will head the Committee on Justice, Legislation, Human Rights and Freedoms, while Hicham El Mahajri of PAM was elected chair of the Committee on Finance and Economic Development.
Mustapha Ibrahimi of the PJD was elected chair of the Committee on Social Sectors, and Mohamed El Aâraj of the Popular Movement will lead the Committee on Productive Sectors.
Abdelhak Amghar of the USFP was elected chair of the Committee on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment and Sustainable Development.
Hassan Derham of the PPS will head the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication, while Hanan El Masi of PAM was elected chair of the Committee on the Control of Public Finances and Governance.
Parliamentary group leaders announced
At the start of the session, Touizi announced the names of the leaders of the parliamentary groups and the parliamentary grouping.
Hicham Sabri will lead PAM’s parliamentary group, Yassine Achaach will head RNI’s group, and Madiha Khiyer will lead Istiqlal’s group. El Azami El Idrissi will head the PJD group, while Rim Chabat will lead the Popular Movement group.
Abderrahim Chahid was named head of the USFP parliamentary group, Chaoui Belassal will lead the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group, and Rachid Hamouni will head the PPS group. Nabila Jellal will lead the parliamentary grouping of the Alliance of the Left.
With the election of the bureau members and permanent committee chairs, the House has completed the formation of its organizational structures ahead of its legislative and oversight work.
The elections fall under Article 62 of Morocco’s Constitution. Article 54 of the House’s internal regulations stipulates that the bureau consists of the speaker, eight deputy speakers, two treasurers and three secretaries, elected according to the proportional representation of parliamentary groups.
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