Parliament sitting cancelled again without explanation: Members receive no official notification!
Opposition lawmakers have expressed concern over the unscheduled cancellation of 20th People’s Majlis sittings, asserting that these disruptions obstruct their constitutional mandate to hold the government accountable. Members accused the Speaker of the House of deliberately stalling legislative proceedings despite numerous high-priority issues being tabled, further characterizing the move as an attempt to undermine the authority of the Constitution.
Speaker of the Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, presiding over the People's Majlis. | Majlis
A sitting of the People’s Majlis has once again been canceled without any prior notice or explanation.
The 20th People’s Majlis has come under scrutiny for its lack of transparency, characterized by sittings being unscheduled, postponed, or canceled without clear explanation. Speaking to RaajjeMV, the Member of Parliament for North Galolhu, Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), noted that during the conclusion of last Wednesday's sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla had officially announced that a sitting would be held this Monday.
However, the member noted that Monday's sitting was not included on the agenda and added that the reason for this remains unclear.
Expressing his concern on X, Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, the Member of Parliament for the South Hulhumalé constituency, stated that no official notification has been issued regarding whether a parliamentary sitting will be held this Monday. He further noted reports suggesting that no sittings are scheduled for the entirety of this week. The MP asserted that the Speaker’s decision to effectively "lock down" the Parliament obstructs the constitutional responsibility to hold the government accountable and undermines the authority of the Constitution.
Highlighting that the MDP parliamentary group has already submitted several key measures to hold the government accountable, the member noted that these include the issue of over 13,000 employees being dismissed from state-owned enterprises, the secretly initiated "Pearl Visa" program, and more than 60 pending questions directed at cabinet ministers. Shamheed emphasized that it would be a grave mistake for the government to believe it can conceal its wrongdoings by obstructing the parliament.
Ibrahim Nazil, the Member of Parliament for South Hithadhoo and Leader of the MDP Parliamentary Group, also commented on the performance of the 20th People's Majlis, stating that if its work were to be graded based on results, it would only earn a "C++."
Nazil stated that throughout the 94-year history of the People's Majlis, sittings are currently only possible due to the efforts of the 13 MDP members. He added that without their contribution, the ruling PNC would not even have been able to set an agenda to convene a single session during this term.
