The Provisional Commission tasked with carrying out the functions of the National Press Council (CNP) announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the results of the professional journalists’ election and the list of newspaper publishers designated to sit on the new body.
Professional Journalists’ Election
Following the vote held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at polling stations across the Kingdom’s regions, the Commission reviewed and consolidated the official polling records. Nationwide, 3,421 professional journalists were registered on the final electoral rolls, with 1,681 voters casting ballots, representing a turnout of 49.14%. Of all ballots counted, 1,529 were deemed valid, while 152 were declared invalid and none were contested.
After the votes were counted and the polling records validated, seven candidates were declared elected to represent professional journalists:
- Hanane Rihab: 703 votes
- Abdellah Bakkali: 481 votes
- Abdelhak El Azimi: 455 votes
- El Kebir Khchichine: 437 votes
- Mounia Archi: 281 votes
- Nadia Hassissou: 257 votes
- Aziza Ghoulam: 253 votes
Newspaper Publishers’ Representatives
In parallel, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 09.26 on the reorganization of the CNP, Law No. 88.13 on the press and publishing, as well as the Commission’s regulatory decision, the professional organization submitted its nominations for the publishers’ category.
After reviewing the applications and supporting documents to ensure compliance with legal requirements, the Commission approved the list of seven designated publishers:
- Bahia Amrani
- Souad Mekkaoui
- El Mehdi Allabouch
- Aziz Daki
- Driss Chahtane
- Mokhtar Laghzioui
- Khalid El Hariry
While commending the engagement of journalists and the professionalism of the teams overseeing the process—including polling station presidents, court officers and other participants—the Commission confirmed that the entire electoral process had been conducted in strict compliance with the regulatory framework in force.
These successive announcements mark the completion of the legal and institutional process for forming the Council. They now pave the way for the remaining procedures to be completed, the Council’s structures to be formally established and the effective exercise of the responsibilities entrusted to it.
