King Mohammed VI presided over the opening of the first session of the first legislative year of the 12th legislature on Friday, October 9. The ceremony was attended by the King’s advisers, members of the outgoing government, the new head of government and officials from several public institutions. Around 200 media representatives were also present to cover the parliamentary opening.
Members of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), Hicham El Mhajri and Zineb Simou, highlighted the importance of the King’s guidelines on strategic sovereignty, particularly in water, energy and food security, as well as industry, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
The two lawmakers also stressed the need to accelerate administrative deconcentration and transfer more powers from central government to the state’s territorial services. They described this as a key lever for territorial development.
Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) lawmaker Rachid Hamouni focused on bilateral relations between Morocco and Spain, particularly migration and the situation of unaccompanied Moroccan minors in Ceuta and Melilla.
In his speech, the King addressed challenges facing Moroccan-Spanish cooperation, including certain provisions considered outdated. He announced that Morocco would soon present its partners with a document outlining a strategic vision to promote co-development, economic competitiveness and regional stability.
For their part, Istiqlal Party lawmakers Rahhal Mekkaoui and Madiha Khayr, identified as the new president of the party’s parliamentary group, highlighted the royal guidelines on the development model, youth, regionalization and relations between Rabat and Madrid.
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“His Majesty also stressed our country’s strategic sovereignty as an emerging nation, as well as Morocco’s standing on the international stage,” Khayr said. She also pointed to the importance the King attached to administrative deconcentration and advanced regionalization.
Justice and Development Party (PJD) lawmaker Amina Maelainine emphasized the collective responsibility involved in addressing the challenges raised in the royal speech.
“His Majesty outlined a set of challenges that we are all called upon to address, including the government, Parliament and various stakeholders, at both the economic and social levels,” she said.
Maelainine also highlighted the attention given to migration issues and the legal framework governing them, against a backdrop of recent difficulties in relations with neighboring countries, as she described them.
