Morocco's Chamber of Counselors has elected new presidents for two key commissions. Moulay Abderrahmane Blila from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party has been elected president of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Commission. Abou Bakr Abid from the Socialist group has been elected president of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Infrastructure Commission. The elections took place during a plenary session on October 27, 2026.
The election of the new commission presidents was necessitated by the formation of a new government and changes in the composition of the Chamber of Counselors. The new configuration of the Chamber's components, both in the majority and opposition, required adjustments to be made to the commissions' leadership. According to the Chamber's vice-president, Lahcen Haddad, the changes aimed to ensure conformity with constitutional provisions and the Chamber's internal regulations.
The list of candidates, as announced by Lahcen Haddad, received 50 votes out of a total of 55 expressed suffrages. Five ballots were declared null and void. Prior to the election, Haddad recalled that the presidency of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Commission is allocated to the opposition, in accordance with Article 99 of the Chamber's internal regulations and Article 69 of the Constitution.
The RNI party, which had previously been part of the government, has now become part of the opposition. Conversely, the Socialist group is no longer part of the opposition. As a result, Moulay Abderrahmane Blila from the RNI party had to step down as president of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Infrastructure Commission, while Abou Bakr Abid from the Socialist group had to resign as president of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Commission.
Following the resignations, the different components of the Chamber were informed of the vacancies, allowing them to submit new candidatures. The newly elected presidents will lead the commissions in their new roles. The Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Commission is responsible for overseeing the country's legislative and judicial affairs, while the Interior, Local Authorities, and Infrastructure Commission focuses on issues related to local governance and infrastructure development.
The Chamber of Counselors is a critical institution in Morocco's parliamentary system, playing a key role in the country's legislative process. The election of new commission presidents reflects the dynamic nature of Morocco's politics and the ongoing efforts to ensure effective governance. The changes are expected to have a significant impact on the country's policy landscape.
The new leadership of the commissions will have to navigate complex issues, including judicial reform, human rights, and local governance. They will work closely with other stakeholders, including government ministers, parliamentarians, and civil society organizations, to address these challenges. The effectiveness of the commissions will depend on their ability to build consensus and drive meaningful change.
Key points
- Moulay Abderrahmane Blila from the RNI party elected president of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Commission.
- Abou Bakr Abid from the Socialist group elected president of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Infrastructure Commission.
- The elections reflect changes in the composition of the Chamber of Counselors following the formation of a new government.
