Morocco’s House of Representatives Completes Leadership Elections with Bureau and Committee Chairs

Morocco’s House of Representatives finished forming its leadership bodies on Wednesday, electing the members of its bureau and the chairs of its nine permanent committees.

The process fits into the broader trend of parliamentary leadership renewals seen across Arab legislatures.

The single list presented for a vote won the backing of 293 legislators out of the 295 who participated, with two ballots declared invalid. The session was presided over by the newly chosen speaker, Ahmed Touizi.

The vote on 14 October came after Touizi secured the speakership a day earlier, gaining 220 votes against 59 for Idriss El Azami El Idrissi of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in a ballot that saw 369 lawmakers take part.

Mustapha Baitas of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) became first deputy speaker, followed by Khalid Chennak of the Istiqlal parliamentary group as second deputy speaker, Abdellah Bouanou of the PJD as third deputy speaker, and Mohamed Ouzzine of the Popular Movement as fourth deputy speaker. Mohamed Mellal of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) was elected fifth deputy speaker, Mohamed Goudar of the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group sixth, Meryem Ouahssate of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) seventh, and Adel El Bitar of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) eighth.

The House also appointed Amina Maelainine of the PJD and Houda El Maghari of PAM as its two treasurers, while Fatima Zahra Basraoui of RNI, Mbarek Hamia of Istiqlal and Aziza Beddad of PAM were named the three secretaries.

Permanent committee chairs

At the committee level, Mohamed El Gharass of the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group was chosen to chair the Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, Migration and Moroccans Living Abroad.

Moncef Ettoub of Istiqlal will head the Committee on the Interior, Territorial Communities, Housing, Urban Policy and Administrative Affairs.

Mohamed Ghayath of the RNI will lead the Committee on Justice, Legislation, Human Rights and Freedoms, and Hicham El Mahajri of PAM was elected chair of the Committee on Finance and Economic Development.

Mustapha Ibrahimi of the PJD became chair of the Committee on Social Sectors, while Mohamed El Aâraj of the Popular Movement will head the Committee on Productive Sectors.

Abdelhak Amghar of the USFP was appointed chair of the Committee on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, Environment and Sustainable Development.

Hassan Derham of the PPS will chair the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication, and Hanan El Masi of PAM was elected chair of the Committee on the Control of Public Finances and Governance.

Parliamentary group leaders

At the opening of the session, Touizi announced the heads of the parliamentary groups and the parliamentary grouping.

Hicham Sabri will lead the PAM parliamentary group, Yassine Achaach will head the RNI group, and Madiha Khiyer will head the Istiqlal group. Idriss El Azami El Idrissi will lead the PJD group, Rim Chabat will lead the Popular Movement group, Abderrahim Chahid will head the USFP group, Chaoui Belassal will lead the Constitutional Democratic and Social Group, and Rachid Hamouni will head the PPS group. Nabila Jellal will lead the parliamentary grouping of the Alliance of the Left.

With the bureau members and permanent committee chairs now in place, the House has completed the set‑up of its organisational structures ahead of its legislative and oversight duties. The elections are conducted under Article 62 of Morocco’s Constitution, and Article 54 of the House’s internal regulations defines the bureau as comprising the speaker, eight deputy speakers, two treasurers and three secretaries, elected in line with the proportional strength of the parliamentary groups.