16/06/2023 Parliamentary Support
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Portuguese Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) organised a study visit to the Portuguese Parliament on participatory democracy on 15 and 16 June 2023.
The 2011 Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco is aimed at building a modern democratic State. Thus, a new social contract based on the principles of citizen and participatory democracy at the national and territorial levels has been established, and several participatory mechanisms have been made available to citizens and society in order to participate in the management of public affairs.
It also gives citizens the right to present motions on legislative matters and petitions to public authorities (according to articles 14 and 15 respectively); its new provisions have strengthened the role of Parliament and more specifically the Chamber of Representatives, which quickly adapted to the prerogatives of the new legal framework by creating a committee in charge of petitions.
This study day allowed the Moroccan delegation to become more familiar with the long and rich Portuguese experience of participatory democracy. Since 1976, the Portuguese Constitution has granted the right of petition and legislative initiative.
It was also an opportunity to discuss the necessary tools and methods, including the submission platform, for improving the system of petitions and motions to the Moroccan Parliament.
This study visit was attended by two Vice-Presidents of the House of Representatives, parliamentarians who are members of the Committee on Petitions, and staff of the Directorate of Legislation at the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Morocco, as well as senior representatives of the Portuguese Parliament.
This study visit is part of the joint programme "Support for the national mechanism for the prevention of torture and the development of the role of Parliament in consolidating democracy in Morocco 2020-2023" funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe.