The two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament have been summoned this Monday to a plenary session in response to the motion passed last Thursday by the European Parliament criticizing the press freedom situation in the country and the bribery scheme to gain influence in Brussels.
The presidents of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, and of the House of Councilors, Naam Miyara, issued a press release on Saturday to inform of the convocation, which will be held on Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the House of Representatives.
«The two chambers of Parliament will hold a joint plenary session next Monday dedicated to the discussion of the recent positions expressed by the European Parliament vis-à-vis Morocco,» the note explained.
The European Parliament adopted last Thursday by 356 votes in favor, 32 against and 42 abstentions a resolution calling for respect for freedom of expression and the media, denouncing the use of the ‘Pegasus’ spying program and also calling for «a fair trial» for imprisoned journalists Omar Radi, Sulaiman Raisuni and Taufik Buachrine.
«POLITICAL INTERFERENCE».
The National Council of the Moroccan Press has condemned the resolution that «serves the agenda of hegemony and a defunct past» in reference to the European colonial past in Africa and stressed that «the three journalists were convicted for crimes outside the practice of the profession» contained in the Penal Code. It is a «political interference in the name of freedom of the press or human rights».
The decision of the European Parliament «reveals prejudices against Morocco» and «considers all judicial decisions to be corrupt and unjust by constantly relying on reports from foreign organizations», in reference to the repeated denunciations of organizations such as Amnesty International or Reporters Without Borders.
The Council «expresses its deep astonishment at the methodology of the response to the cases of journalists prosecuted in Moroccan courts» because «it assumes a unilateral and prejudiced point of view promoted by foreign organizations whose credibility is questioned even by European countries».
Also the Moroccan Magistrates Club has condemned the «foreign intrusion in the decisions of the national judiciary» and condemned «categorically all attempts to influence the Moroccan judiciary, both internal and external».
BRIBERY TRACT Minor has been the response to the European Parliament’s motion expressing its «deep concern over allegations that the Moroccan authorities have corrupted members of the European Parliament» with bribes.
Moroccan official sources quoted by the portal Hespress AR have stressed in statements on condition of anonymity that «Morocco, like all countries, has always defended its interests in the context of its relations with its foreign partners».
«It is Morocco’s achievements that worry certain parties and provoke inappropriate and incomprehensible reactions and maneuvers,» he has argued.
The purpose of the resolution is to «slow down the positive dynamics that have been seen in the Morocco-EU relationship.» «It is not the first time that the Kingdom has been the target of attacks to weaken and discredit the government within the European Parliament,» he recalled.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
