HIBAPRESS – L.Abrouk
With the end of the government's term approaching, the discussion about evaluating the performance of Aziz Akhannouch's government is renewed, and reading into the results of its declared programs and the extent of their implementation on the ground.
We will dedicate this weekly series to talking about the performance and achievements of a number of government members whose stars shone during this term and succeeded in fulfilling, even if only in part, their promises to the King as well as to the citizens.
We will not scatter roses on the government, nor will we practice self-flagellation, but rather we will be keen to evaluate the performance of its members in the language of numbers, far from the logic of political alignment.
The standard of efficiency and adherence to promises remains the deciding factor in judging any governmental experience, as policies are not measured by good intentions or by the abundance of slogans, but by their ability to achieve tangible results that reflect on the lives of citizens.
And in this episode of the weekly series dedicated to evaluating the ministers' performance, we will shed light on the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi.
What is the outcome of the leader of the broadest legislative reform workshop in the justice sector?
Abdellatif Ouahbi.. The leader of the broadest legislative reform workshop in the justice sector
Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi signed on a legislative stage described as the broadest in years, by launching a package of reforms affecting the criminal system, in addition to modernizing judicial professions and accelerating the digital transformation of justice, in the context of a general trend towards modernizing the legal arsenal and reducing pressure on courts and prisons.
Ouahbi's reforms and laws, despite their importance and direct impact on the structure of justice, did not receive the same media momentum that accompanied his outings and controversial and sometimes provocative statements, which often overshadowed the discussion related to the essence of legal projects and their technical contents.
From the bar exam and the protests and angry reactions it sparked, to the tension with the bar associations because of the draft law on the profession and the strikes that followed, Ouahbi remained at the heart of a continuous political and professional storm, which sometimes made his image as a "controversial minister" precede the objective discussion about his legislative record.
Modernizing the Penal Code and Expanding Alternatives
The draft amendment to the Penal Code is one of the most prominent workshops of the ministry, which included a review of a number of crimes and penalties to adapt them to societal changes.
The project also expanded the scope of alternative penalties, such as working for the public good instead of prison sentences for some misdemeanors, while opening a discussion about controversial articles related to individual freedoms.
In the same context, a special law on alternative penalties was enacted, which establishes a clear legal system that allows the application of alternatives to short prison sentences, with the aim of reducing overcrowding inside prison institutions and promoting the reintegration of those convicted.
Reforming the Criminal Procedure and Strengthening Defense Rights
The draft law on criminal procedure also constituted a major stop in the path of Minister Ouahbi, as it focused on strengthening the guarantees of a fair trial, and organizing the preliminary investigation stage and custodial detention more precisely, while strengthening the rights of defense and expanding the role of the lawyer during the investigation.
The project also included re-adjusting some of the powers of the Public Prosecution, which sparked a wide discussion in professional and human rights circles.
Accelerating Civil Cases and Digitizing Procedures
As for the draft law on civil procedure, it aimed to expedite the adjudication of cases and reduce the deadlines for appeals, while organizing electronic notification and integrating digitization into judicial procedures.
In this context, the ministry launched projects to integrate the electronic exchange of documents, and to establish digital platforms for obtaining the criminal record and court services, with legal recognition of electronic procedures.
Organizing Judicial Professions
The outcome also included a review of the laws of judicial professions, at the forefront of which is the draft law on the legal profession, which sparked controversy with bar associations, in addition to updating the legal framework regulating notaries, judicial commissioners and experts, and reorganizing the conditions for access to legal professions.
The Check Law.. A Turning Point in Criminal Policy
One of the most prominent developments that have come into effect is Law No. 71.24 amending the Commercial Code relating to checks, which came into effect on January 29, 2026.
This reform aims to reduce arrest related to issuing checks without sufficient funds, and to strengthen confidence in the check as a means of payment.
The new law reduced prison sentences to between six months and three years, with the possibility of suspending execution and immediate release upon payment.
The law also dropped the judicial follow-up permanently when paying the value of the check and fees, even in the event of a final ruling, and reduced the fines to 2 percent of the value of the check (up to 50,000 dirhams), with the enactment of a 30-day notice period before filing the lawsuit, and the abolition of criminalization in checks exchanged between spouses or between ascendants and descendants, and alternatives such as the electronic bracelet were also adopted instead of pre-trial detention in some cases.
In addition, while the ministry considers that these reforms represent a qualitative step towards modernizing justice, accelerating procedures and reducing judicial delays, a number of followers believe that some projects, especially the criminal procedure and the law on the legal profession, need more consensus and dialogue with professionals in the sector to come up with a governmental outcome and an unprecedented reform path in the justice sector.
