Bensaid: No Intent to Dominate the National Press Council and the Government is Open to Amendments
Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, rejected accusations against the government of attempting to dominate the National Press Council, emphasizing that the text presented for discussion is not intended to exclude or control, but rather is based on the recommendations of a temporary committee that worked for nine months.
During a detailed discussion of the draft law for reorganizing the council on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee of the House of Representatives, the minister asserted that the government does not legislate in favor of individuals or against a specific group within the media. He added that the project is not part of the government program but is a response to a legal void imposed by the previous phase.
Bensaid clarified that the proposed legal text is not absolute and can be amended, pointing out that the temporary committee presented an advanced vision for restructuring the council after identifying shortcomings in the previous experience. The ministry is working on implementing the committee’s outcomes without intentions of control or guardianship.
He stressed that the current context requires a law that balances press freedom with institutional regulation, stating, “Anyone who thinks the government can suppress expression in 2025 is mistaken; today’s technology does not allow for that.”
In response to criticisms from the opposition, the minister highlighted that the representation of members within the council combines elections and appointments, taking into account the diversity of the press body and similar international experiences. He noted that some democratic countries do not resort to elections for such bodies.
On the other hand, opposition deputies raised concerns about a decline in democratic representation mechanisms, arguing that the dual composition model could undermine justice and favor certain groups over others, particularly regarding the representation of publishers or regional journalists. They also called for gender parity within the council’s composition and for the adoption of clear quotas for women.
The deputies criticized the exclusion of some bodies, such as lawyers, from council membership, demanding clarification on the criteria for this change. Despite reservations, some deputies expressed understanding of the government’s intentions and underscored the necessity of starting from good faith to enhance transparency and broaden participation within the council, thereby ensuring its independence and role in consolidating democracy and serving the public interest.
