Parliament has passed the motion to extend the state of emergency to 30 days.

The motion, proposed by President Abdulla Yameen, was passed with 38 votes in the second extraordinary sitting held on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaker Abdulla Maseeh gave one hour for MPs to debate the national security committee’s report on extending the state of emergency. Only two MPs spoke during the debate: Kelaa MP Ali Arif and Fonadhoo MP Abdulla Abdul Raheeem.

While 40 MPs were in attendance, Speaker Maseeh said an attendance of 43 MPs is not needed for the vote.

Article 87(b) of the Constitution states that “voting on any matter requiring compliance by citizens shall only be undertaken when more than half of the total membership of the People’s Majlis are present at the sitting at which the matter is voted upon.”

At the sitting, Maseeh cited article 38 of the parliament rules as saying that the compliance of citizens is not needed to extend the state of emergency. MPs also voted to request the Supreme Court to confirm the speaker’s claim.