Council of the Nation President Azouz Nasri urged this Wednesday for strengthened cooperation between both houses of Parliament and the executive branch during the opening of the 2026/2027 ordinary legislative session, emphasizing the parliamentary duty to reinforce the legal framework and draw lessons from the wildfire season while maintaining national sovereignty defense against hostile foreign maneuvers.
The new legislative term commences against the backdrop of the social return, local election preparations, and challenges stemming from devastating wildfires, with particular focus placed on bolstering preventive mechanisms. In his opening remarks, Azouz Nasri confirmed that the Council of the Nation will maintain collaboration with the lower chamber to consolidate parliamentary action unity and complementary operation between both houses, adhering to the principle of a bicameral legislature speaking with one voice.
The upper house leader dedicated a significant portion of his address to the tragic fires that impacted several provinces over the summer. Describing it as a difficult and painful summer, he commended the measures enacted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to assist victims and affected residents, compensate losses, and enhance firefighting capabilities.
Azouz Nasri recommended extracting a national lesson from these events. He stated that while the state confronted the blazes with available resources, the parliamentary obligation remains converting this painful experience into a national lesson and a more effective prevention system, expressing support for the legal framework the government intends to adopt following the fires.
The upcoming local elections represented another focal point of his speech. Describing them as a major national and democratic milestone, he expressed the desire to turn the vote into a phase for consolidating democratic practice, renewing local leadership, and deepening public trust in institutions. He notably congratulated former Council of the Nation member Saad Arous on his appointment as head of the Independent National Electoral Authority.
Furthermore, Azouz Nasri stressed the duties of elected representatives, characterizing the legislative mandate as a mutual contract of trust between citizens and their representatives. He called on parliamentarians to utilize their presence, legislative duties, and oversight functions as tools serving citizen interests and national objectives.
The upcoming session, he listed, will examine the 2027 finance bill alongside several legislative texts regarding municipal and provincial governance, the judicial system, healthcare, social security, territorial planning, and digital commerce. The Council of the Nation president emphasized making every law a tool for development and every oversight mechanism a corrective measure, while preserving political diversity within democratic competition.
On diplomatic matters, Azouz Nasri underscored the non-negotiable nature of national sovereignty and advocated for unified ranks around state institutions against campaigns targeting national stability, particularly regarding the United Arab Emirates.
Addressing the social return, Nasri praised government efforts to ensure market supply, maintain price stability, and finalize preparations for primary, secondary, university, and vocational education institutions.