On 19 October 2026, the new government formed after the September elections presented its 2026-2031 programme to Parliament. Of its seven priorities, the second concerns the fight against corruption and the rent economy, and public ethics. Several laws are announced, including one on conflicts of interest. At this stage they are political commitments with no set timetable. Businesses that work with the State nonetheless have every reason to know the broad lines.
A programme, not yet laws
A government programme sets directions; it does not create legal obligations. Each announced law will have to be drafted, adopted by Parliament and published in the Bulletin officiel (Official Gazette) before it applies. No specific deadline has been set: the stated horizon is the parliamentary term, up to 2031. The final content may change along the way. What follows therefore describes announcements, not the law in force. It does show the direction taken, since the future conflict-of-interest law is presented as implementing article 36 of the 2011 Constitution.
Four announced laws
The programme mentions four separate texts. Taken together, they outline a complete framework: preventing conflicts of interest, monitoring changes in wealth, protecting those who report corruption and punishing the use of information to obtain advantages. The announced texts are:
- a conflict-of-interest law, implementing article 36 of the Constitution, which would define the concept, the persons covered, incompatibilities, nepotism and the revolving door between public and private sectors, as well as the role of the INPPLC;
- a unified, mandatory asset declaration, linked to articles 147 and 158 of the Constitution;
- a law protecting whistleblowers who report corruption;
- a criminal offence of disclosing information in order to obtain privileges.
Other announced measures
The programme also plans to widen the powers of the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and the Fight against Corruption (INPPLC), notably by allowing it to act on its own initiative, and to publish sanctions. Each ministry would include an anti-corruption programme in its budget, and the national strategy in this area would be revived.
Two announcements are of direct interest to lawyers: the revision of article 245 of the Penal Code, on unlawful taking of interests, and an electronic platform publishing declarations of interests. The first could broaden or clarify the criminal scope of the offence. The second would make public information that is currently hard to access. The exact content of both measures is still unknown.
What businesses dealing with the State can anticipate
It would be premature to infer precise obligations. But a company that bids for public contracts, runs a concession or hires former public officials can already adopt prudent practices. A compliance effort started early usually costs less than an urgent upgrade, and it also protects the company under the rules already in force, including those of the Penal Code. Useful measures include:
- identifying personal or financial links between its managers and public decision-makers;
- setting up an internal procedure to declare and manage conflicts of interest;
- framing gifts, invitations and benefits offered to public officials;
- setting up an internal reporting channel;
- looking carefully at the hiring of former public officials.
Sources
- Médias24, 20 October 2026: « Moralisation de la vie publique et conflit d'intérêts : les engagements du gouvernement pour 2026-2031 »
Maître Mouad Lahfaia
Lawyer at the Rabat Bar
This article reflects the author's views as at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice and is no substitute for an analysis of your particular situation.