CASABLANCA, Morocco — Following a heated plenary session Nov. 16 in the Moroccan House of Representatives, the 2019 finance bill passed 189-83 in a vote marked by the absence of several ministers of government.

On Nov. 6, two days ahead of the Government Council meeting, the Moroccan government had not yet defined the public entities and enterprises concerned by the privatization program set out in the 2019 finance bill. When contacted by Al-Monitor, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, minister of industry, trade, investment and economy, was unable to provide further information.

“The Ministry of Economy and Finance will propose the assets to be divested and we will give our opinion. We do not play any role at the moment,” Elalamy told Al-Monitor.

Two days later, on Nov. 8, the Government Council identified two companies as being partially or fully privatized in accordance with the bill: La Mamounia Hotel, recently voted the best hotel in Africa by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, and the Tahaddart power plant, which produces one-tenth of Morocco's total energy consumption.