The Parliament Approves the Criminal Procedure Code
The House of Representatives approved, on Tuesday in a second reading, Bill No. 03.23 concerning amendments to Law No. 22.01 related to the criminal procedure code, following its referral from the House of Councillors.
The approval came during a public session dedicated to studying texts ready for voting, where the bill received the support of the majority of deputies, with 130 in favor and 40 against, without any abstentions. This step follows the House of Councillors’ approval of the bill on July 8, with a majority of 24 votes in favor, against 4 opponents and 2 abstentions.
Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, who presented the text, stated that “reforming the criminal procedure code is not merely a technical adjustment, but rather a civilizational choice reflecting the state’s will to establish effective and balanced justice, ensuring the protection of rights and freedoms and achieving legal deterrence.”
The bill has sparked widespread controversy, particularly due to a provision that prohibits associations for the protection of public funds from reporting certain cases, which human rights activists have described as a “violation of the constitution” and a undermining of participatory democracy strengthened by civil society’s role. The Constitutional Court is expected to settle this debate after the text is referred to it to examine its compatibility with constitutional provisions.
