The Provisional Commission in charge of the management of the press and publishing sector has 9 months to deliver an overall assessment and propose structural measures aimed at strengthening the profession, said Thursday, April 13, the Minister of Youth, of Culture and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid.
Speaking during the press briefing following the meeting of the Council of Government, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, indicated that the purpose of the new bill 15.23 is to create a Commission which will prepare for the emergence of a new system for the National Press Council, inspired by the principles of good governance and the rules of good management which reflect the aspirations of the components of the press and publishing sector
According to the Minister, the role of the Provisional Commission is to discuss with the players in the field in order to submit a proposal allowing the Council to break the impasse in which it is living, noting that the government representative will attend the meetings of the said commission at advisory title.
With regard to the mandate, Bensaid explains that the idea is to grant the commission a period of 9 months to present an overall assessment of the current situation of the press and publishing sector and to propose measures aimed at strengthen the pillars of the field.
” This will give the government and the parliament time to comply with the legislative measure which will be discussed at the meeting of the Council of Government and transmitted to the parliament in its two chambers. This measurement needs a little time“, he indicated, adding that he “ we need at least two months to be able to introduce this new bill quickly so that the Commission can begin its functions“.
He recalls that article 54 of the law speaks only of the creation of the CNP and does not stipulate that the government is responsible for the organization of the elections. The minister thus specified that there are a number of shortcomings in the current law that the government has observed. These shortcomings notably played a role in hampering the organization of the elections of the members of the Council.
It should be noted that the preparation of this bill comes after the failure to hold elections for members of the National Press Council, despite the extension of its mandate on an exceptional basis, according to Decree-Law No. 2.22. 770 of October 6, 2022.
This draft stipulates that the Commission exercises, during this period, the tasks stipulated in Article 2 of Law No. 90.13. It will also work to provide appropriate conditions to develop the press and publishing sector. The text entrusts it in particular with the missions of strengthening the links of cooperation and joint work between the components of the press and the publishing sector as well as the preparation of the elections of the members of the Council in accordance with the legislative and regulatory texts in vigor.