Parliamentary sittings set to resume next week after 35-day hiatus
Opposition lawmakers have expressed concern over the suspension of parliamentary sittings without clear justification, noting that only five sessions have been held during the current term. Members accused the government of hijacking the Majlis and restricting opportunities for executive oversight, further alleging that the proceedings were stalled to avoid potential criticism ahead of the upcoming elections.
A scene from a People's Majlis sitting— The Parliament Secretariat has announced that sittings will resume next week, following a 35-day hiatus. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
The People's Majlis is set to resume its sessions this coming Monday, according to the parliamentary secretariat, ending a 35-day hiatus in legislative proceedings.
The last sitting of the People's Majlis was held on Sunday, March 8. That session, which took place 18 days after the previous sitting on February 17, concluded without any significant work being completed.
The session was held on a Sunday, which is not a day the Parliament typically meets. Once a session begins, sittings are generally scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each week.
The People's Majlis has convened for only five sittings so far during the first session of 2024. Following a two-month recess, the parliament officially reopened for the year on February 5th. Despite three months having passed since the start of the first session, the reasons for the frequent cancellations and the failure to hold regular sittings remain undisclosed.
Opposition members have repeatedly voiced their concerns regarding this issue. Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, the Member of Parliament for the Hulhumalé South constituency, stated that the government has effectively hijacked the entire Parliament by failing to convene sessions and keeping members uninformed of ongoing developments.
Shamheed stated that members are left in a state of uncertainty every sitting day regarding whether the session will actually take place. He noted that this is because neither the Parliament Secretariat nor the Speaker of Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, provides any prior clarification or notification to the members.
Shamheed stated that the Parliament is one of the most vital institutions for holding the government accountable. He emphasized that it is the venue where the people's representatives must question the administration, particularly regarding current global events and their potential impact on the Maldives. However, the member noted that by failing to convene sessions, the opportunity to hold the government accountable has been effectively obstructed.
Opposition members contended at the time that parliamentary sittings were canceled to silence them ahead of the local council elections scheduled for April 4. They alleged the government feared that remarks made by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) would have a negative impact and lead to a loss of votes. MDP members maintained that they were preoccupied with campaign travels during that period.
