HM the King Addresses a Message to Participants in the National Symposium Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Moroccan Parliament

English

Full Text of the Royal Message to the Participants in the National Symposium Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Moroccan Parliament

"Praise be to God, and peace and blessings be upon the Master of Messengers, His Family and Companions.

Honorable Members of the Houses of Representatives and Counselors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives us great pleasure to address the participants in this national symposium, held under Our High Patronage, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the first elected parliament in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The commemoration of this important event serves three main objectives. The first is to remind current and rising generations of our national democratic and institutional journey, and the reforms accumulated within the framework of national consensus. The second is to review what our country has achieved in parliamentary work and the standing of the legislative branch within the institutional, political, and developmental reforms experienced by Morocco throughout this era of our contemporary history. The third objective is to look forward to the future of the Moroccan political model, with a view to consolidating representative democracy and the principle of the separation of powers, thereby reinforcing our institutional traditions deeply rooted in our civilizational heritage.

It is no secret to you that the Moroccan parliamentary model was established upon a visionary political approach based on gradualism, the accumulation of continuous constitutional reforms, and a commitment to the participation of active political, social, and economic forces. This stems from the belief that democracy is neither a ready-made recipe nor an imported model, but rather an endogenous, gradual building process that embraces plurality and diversity, interacting with the national context and the specificities of each country without compromising the universal standards of representative democracy—among whose foundations are free and fair elections, party pluralism, and the alternation in managing public affairs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ever since Morocco regained its freedom and independence, Our Holy Grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V—may God rest his soul—ensured, with the participation of national forces, to provide the country with a National Consultative Council as a building block for representative democracy. During the reign of Our Venerated Father, His Majesty King Hassan II—may God envelop him in His mercy—there was fulfilled what the hero of liberation desired for the nation: the establishment of the state of institutions.

With the entry into force of the Kingdom's first post-independence constitution, which laid the foundations of a modern state based on citizens electing their representatives in various representative bodies, the election of the first bicameral parliament took place in 1963. Our country, under the leadership of Our Venerated Father—may God rest his soul—thus ushered in a new phase of its political and constitutional life, affirming its sovereign choices in political and party pluralism, representative democracy, freedom of organization and affiliation, and freedom of opinion and expression, at a time when single-party ideologies prevailed in many parts of the world.

Despite the transformations of that era, party pluralism remained intact, and Morocco's unique character persisted through serious political parties carrying diverse societal projects, a vigilant civil society, and independent trade union organizations. These generated lively debates resulting in successive constitutional revisions in the 1970s and 1990s, introducing fundamental changes and enshrining pluralistic representation in the parliamentary institution.

The last quarter of the 20th century was decisive for completing the democratic edifice and elected institutions at both the national and local levels, strengthening national institutions, and enacting major reforms framed by two significant constitutional amendments in 1992 and 1996. This important and pivotal phase in Morocco's history was fundamental to the institutional reform process, highlighted by the return, since 1996, to a bicameral parliamentary system where both chambers enjoy equal powers, alongside the expansion of elected institutions' competences and the laying of regionalization foundations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Following this path, and since Our accession to the throne of Our glorious ancestors, We have made sure to launch and sponsor major reforms across various political, social, economic, and cultural fields. Naturally, the legislative institution has been at the core of these structural reforms, whether through the expansion of its powers or the promotion of women's representation, whose prominent presence has steadily grown within the legislature and various elected councils.

Indeed, We initiated a set of profound reforms, culminating in the adoption of the 2011 Constitution—an advanced constitution that enabled several structural reforms and truly stood as a hallmark of the Moroccan exception in reform. The legislative branch was at the center of these reforms, with its powers significantly expanded, alongside the strengthening of the independence of the executive and judicial branches. Consequently, parliament became the source of legislation, and evaluating public policies was added to its competences alongside monitoring government action.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our country was a pioneer in constitutionally enshrining participatory and citizen democracy, the roles of civil society, and the right of male and female citizens to submit legislative petitions and public authorities' motions, which serves to enrich parliamentary work. It is a source of pride for Us in Morocco that the participatory approach has always served as a method in shaping the major reforms witnessed by our country during several pivotal junctures in our history rich in achievements and positive developments.

While this methodology reflects the other positive face of Moroccan democracy and its singularity, its ultimate goal remains the consolidation of the state of law and institutions based on the separation of powers and accountability.

In the realm of parliamentary diplomacy and foreign relations, we also note with satisfaction the Moroccan parliament's contribution to defending the Kingdom's just interests and causes, including our territorial integrity, as well as introducing the various reforms and projects underway in the Kingdom. We are likewise proud that Moroccan parliamentary diplomacy is at the forefront of defending the crucial causes of our African continent, which we have placed at the forefront of our foreign policy priorities—including those related to climate justice, food security, migration, peace, and the continent's right to development and investment in its resources and potential, for the benefit of its peoples.

All of this is conducted in full adherence to the doctrine of Moroccan diplomacy, the foundations of which We have laid, based on non-interference in the internal affairs of states, respect for their national and territorial integrity, contribution to the preservation of peace and stability, and the peaceful settlement and prevention of crises and conflicts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Parliamentary work and the democracy of representative institutions have achieved great maturity in terms of competences and their exercise, as well as through openness to civil society, the organization and management of parliamentary work, and the forging of partnerships with other national parliaments. However, despite what has been achieved in this area, efforts must be doubled to elevate institutional representative democracy to the level we desire for it, one that honors Morocco.

Among the most prominent challenges that must be met to elevate parliamentary work are, for example: the necessity of prioritizing the supreme interests of the nation and citizens over other partisan calculations; modernizing parliamentary life by adopting a legally binding code of ethics within the legislative institution in both its chambers; achieving harmony between the practice of representative democracy and participatory democracy; and working to enhance the quality of parliamentary and elected elites while encouraging a greater influx of women and youth into representative institutions.

Concurrently, emphasis must be placed on the decisive role parliament must play in spreading democratic values, anchoring the rule of law, enshrining a culture of participation and dialogue, and boosting trust in elected institutions.

These are all stakes that must be earnestly won, especially within the context of the major reform projects and structural undertakings being accomplished by Morocco, which will undoubtedly have a profound impact on achieving our aspirations for further progress and prosperity for our cherished people.

May God Almighty crown your proceedings with success and guide your steps along the path of righteousness.

Wassalamu alayka wa rahmatullahi ta'ala wa barakatuh."