The representative office of the Bar Association of Moroccan Lawyers (ABAM) was received on Monday by Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget to discuss the new tax measures of the PLF concerning this corporation.
This meeting takes place, according to the association, within the framework of a parliamentary mediation initiative between the government and the lawyers’ body with the aim of reaching a compromise on this problem. An initiative that followed the call of the ABAM to create a joint commission to discuss with the government about the taxation of lawyers in the PLF.
The meeting was in principle to take place with members of the government, as confirmed by a letter sent by the Secretary General to the members of the Association. In this case, they were the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa. But apparently only the latter deigned to move.
In the end, the meeting was held against the background of a general strike by lawyers announced for November 1 and for a first contact, so to speak, nothing came of it. Lekjaa said during this meeting “that he is aware of the value of the legal profession and that he also wishes to work according to a participative approach. And to affirm that it is in this context that he had developed the tax measures within the framework of the PLF based on the proposals of the Ministry of Justice“. The Minister, in order not to put out the flame of this initiative, which will have been this appetizer if one can say so, has expressed his desire to revise these provisions in the light of the recommendations of the joint commission which will be created for this purpose. .
The other story is that of the President of the Association, who about the provisions of the PLF 2023 explains that they were not developed according to the standards of a participatory approach including the corporation of this noble profession and others within the judiciary. “These measures do not take into account the principle of tax justice or the specificities of the profession. They also set aside the social situation of the majority of lawyers in addition to the negative impact on the right of litigants to resort to justice.“, indicates the press release of the instance.
And to add that the lawyers want this new taxation to be withdrawn and are calling for the creation of a joint commission between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the office of the bar association to study all the possibilities that may be accepted by all and therefore deployed more effectively. In the meantime, the black dresses or togas are thus called to a general strike this Tuesday, November 1, in all the courts of the Kingdom, with the organization of demonstrations from 11 am.
In its plea, the association categorically expresses its rejection of the proposed amendments proposed by the government within the framework of the PLF-2023, which it described as “surprising”. Following this meeting on Monday, the association indicates that it maintains its previously announced positions as well as its decision to observe a strike on 1er november. It is irrevocable according to the lawyers who call for mobilization and solidarity.