Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers threatens withdrawal from Press Council formation

The Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers has threatened to withdraw from the process of forming the National Press Council. During an executive office meeting on September 14, 2026, the Federation expressed its opposition to what it described as the deliberate exclusion of 69 media companies from its membership during the selection process for publisher representatives.

The Federation stated that if this exclusion is not reversed and detailed, convincing answers are not provided, it will consider itself entirely uninvolved in the formation of the National Press Council and will withdraw all submitted files for participation. The organization also reiterated its rejection of the current legal framework, labeling it “catastrophic and regressive,” and criticized the management of the file by the government and the relevant ministry.

Regarding the individual elections for journalist representatives, the Federation announced it will not issue collective voting instructions to respect individual rights. However, it expressed preliminary support for two candidates from member companies and continues to coordinate with journalist unions, while distancing itself from individuals aligned with what it termed “lobbies of dominance and triviality.”