Royal Cabinet Statement
“His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, received today at the Royal Palace of Fes, Mr. Ahmed Rahhou, whom the Sovereign appointed as president of the Competition Council.
This appointment follows the submission to the Royal High Attention of the report of the ad-hoc commission tasked by the Sovereign to conduct the necessary investigations to clarify the situation arising from the confusion created by the conflicting decisions of the Competition Council in the case of potential agreements in the hydrocarbons sector contained in the divergent notes brought to the Royal High Attention of His Majesty the King on July 23 and 28, 2020.
In accordance with the mission entrusted to it by the Sovereign, the commission ensured compliance with the laws and procedures related to the functioning of the Competition Council and the conduct of the contentious process, and concluded that the handling of this case was marked by numerous procedural irregularities. It also noted a clear deterioration in the deliberation atmosphere.
Based on the elements submitted to the Royal High Attention, His Majesty the King, may God assist him, ordered the transmission of the recommendations of the ad-hoc Commission to the Head of Government, in order to address the inaccuracies in the current legal framework, strengthen the impartiality and capabilities of this constitutional institution, and reinforce its role as an independent body contributing to the strengthening of good governance, the rule of law in the economic sphere, and consumer protection.
It is recalled that the ad-hoc Commission was not tasked with examining the substance of the contentious case before the Competition Council, nor, even less, with replacing the Council in its handling.
This approach stems from the Sovereign’s firm commitment to the independence and proper functioning of regulatory and good governance institutions”.
