Positive steps taken to consolidate press freedom in Morocco 'must not make us forget the challenges to face,' Benkirane

Rabat - The positive steps taken with the aim to consolidate the freedom of the press in Morocco "must not make us forget the challenges we yet have to face," said head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane.

Responding to a question on "the freedom of the press" at the House of Representatives' monthly government policy meeting, Benkirane said the challenges remain, particularly in the completion and development of the legal system to protect the independence of the press from the pressure of interest groups, and the establishment of the ethics code, while avoiding insults, defamation and the dissemination of false information. He also recalled that the government has doubled its efforts to further promote the freedom of the press in accordance with the Constitution and in order to establish a free and responsible democratic press, noting that there cannot be a democracy without a free and responsible press.