Mehdi Bensaïd on the Draft Law Reshaping the National Press Council: 80 Percent of Constitutional Recommendations Integrated
Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd announced on Monday at the House of Councillors that 80 percent of the observations put forward by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the National Human Rights Council were incorporated into the amendments of draft law 26.25 concerning the restructuring of the National Press Council.
During a meeting held by the Committee for Education, Culture and Communication to discuss the detailed provisions of draft law 26.25, the minister highlighted the importance of strengthening the council’s role, particularly in terms of representation. He noted that the inclusion of union representatives within its structure contributes to reinforcing the council’s function.
According to Bensaïd, the proposed law aims to reinforce internal appeal mechanisms before judicial procedures are considered, while safeguarding the rights of all parties involved. He stressed that this approach ensures fair and effective application of the legal framework.
He also stated that the draft respects constitutional principles and explained that international approaches to representation within similar regulatory bodies vary from one model to another. He pointed out that there is no universal or fixed system for such councils.
Addressing global developments in the audiovisual and media environment, the minister underlined the emergence of new professions linked to digital communication. He explained that current challenges are no longer limited to print media and cited podcasts as one of the new formats that require proper recognition and regulatory definition inspired by international practices.
The discussions held during the meeting focused largely on the voting system. Opposition groups argued that the proposed text introduces an individual voting method for journalists while maintaining a list based vote for publishers. They viewed this difference as unjustified.
Opposition representatives reiterated their commitment to work toward improving the draft and reaching agreements that protect journalists and enhance self regulation. They also welcomed the minister’s openness to proposed amendments and his willingness to consider the outcomes of consultations held with professionals and the provisional commission.
Majority groups expressed their support for the substance of the draft, while raising certain technical remarks. One of the points addressed concerned Article 33 and the proposed date of the voting process.
Editorial team/le7tv
