Royal speeches

HM the King urges MPs to show determination and courage required by the quality of parliamentary practice

  In a speech delivered, on Friday, before the members of both houses of parliament on the opening of the first session of the second legislative year of the ninth term, HM the King underlined that this major democratic achievement entails a keener sense of responsibility, mobilization and selflessness. 

 "This means we must do away with obsolete practices (..) it is up to parliamentarians alone to engage in their own self-criticism," HM the King said, calling on Parliament to draft a code of ethics with a legal basis, making sure it promotes civic values, public interest, responsibility, integrity and commitment to full, effective participation in Parliament work, while respecting the legal status and constitutional rights of the opposition.

 According to the sovereign, the ultimate goal of the code should be to ensure Parliament provides a forum for constructive dialogue while serving as a school for political elites. "To this end, the appeal and credibility of Parliament should be enhanced to win over whoever might have been disappointed by political action, or whoever questions the usefulness of Parliament in the management of public affairs."

 The sovereign stressed that, regardless of their political affiliation or constituency, MPs are given their mandate by the nation and they are duty-bound to serve public interest, making sure the nation’s best interests always come first. To this end, they are invited to promote cooperation between the two Houses of Parliament, using a specific, well-thought-out approach to achieve this objective.

 HM the King went on saying that Parliament now has all the necessary means for parliamentarians to give fresh impetus to its diplomatic and international cooperation agenda. "To this end, its partnership relations with other parliaments should be strengthened as this will further enhance our country’s standing in international forums, enabling us to defend our best interests properly, particularly the question of our territorial integrity."

 The Sovereign concluded by saying that the  Members of Parliament have the honor of ushering in a new, historical era as they shoulder the responsibility for a ground-breaking parliamentary session. "You can, indeed, make it one the most creative, productive sessions."