Moroccan MPs Blast Ministers’ Chronic Absenteeism in Parliament

"We consider this to be an offense and a targeting of this institution, especially since this is not the first time it has happened," fumed Noureddine Mediane, president of the Istiqlal group, at the opening of the session.

At the origin of his discontent, the absenteeism of the ministers, on Monday, December 23, at a session of oral questions addressed to the government in the House of Representatives. The parliamentarians’ questions concerned only four sectors out of 23, specifies TelQuel.

For his part, the head of the PAM group, Mohamed Aboudrar, denounced this attitude of the ministers and threatens to "boycott the oral question sessions" if they do not review their behavior. "Some ministers consider themselves more important than this institution, we can only appoint them," he declared, annoyed.

Taking the floor, the Minister of State in charge of Human Rights, Mustapha Ramid, wanted to respond to the parliamentarians. Given the tension that was beginning to rise, the chair of the session quickly called him to order, making him understand that the institution’s rules did not allow him to respond to a point of order. Faced with this situation, Mustapha Ramid threatened to "no longer come to Parliament" and to resign from his post.

After a suspension of the session and negotiations, the Minister of State in charge of Human Rights finally answered the oral questions of the government.