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Wahbi Rejects Withdrawal of the Law on the Legal Profession and Emphasizes Dialogue Within Parliament
Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Wahbi, confirmed on Tuesday that he would not withdraw bill No. 66.23 concerning the regulation of the legal profession from Parliament, despite ongoing boycotts of services by several lawyers.
During a session of oral questions at the House of Councillors, Wahbi explained that withdrawing the bill would hinder the legislative institution’s role, stating, “The government submits laws to Parliament, and Parliament decides and votes on them. If I withdraw it, I am preventing the legislative institution from performing its duty.”
The minister emphasized his readiness to receive written comments from professionals, asserting that he is willing “to concede anything that harms lawyers or affects the profession.” He added that the transmission of these comments would be the Parliament’s responsibility, calling on political parties to provide their assessments on what has displeased lawyers, underscoring the need to present evidence when accusations are made regarding undermining the profession’s independence or integrity.
In response to calls for direct dialogue with professional bodies, Wahbi confirmed that any amendments should occur exclusively within the legislative chamber, questioning, “How can one say there has not been dialogue over the past three years?”
In related remarks, the minister addressed the project for establishing a national agency for managing seized and confiscated properties, indicating that its role would involve selling all properties seized by the judiciary or any other entity. Wahbi highlighted similar European experiences in France, Belgium, Italy, and Scandinavian countries, noting that the agency in France contributed 1.44 billion euros to the national treasury, allocating part of this revenue to compensate victims of theft and assaults.
He pointed out that there is a range of seized properties needing management, including 200 motorcycles, four-wheel drive vehicles, and wristwatches. He mentioned that the ministry has been holding consultations with various governmental sectors for the past two years to ensure the successful establishment of this agency.
