Parliament to hold extraordinary sitting on Sunday

Speaker of the Parliament has announced an extra ordinary meeting of the parliament on Sunday, as per the request of the parliamentary group of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

A statement by the Parliament Secretariat today announced the Speakers decision to reconvene, and said that the decision follows a request signed by 29 members of the MDP parliamentary group, stating that political rivals of former president Mohamed Nasheed have trampled constitutional principles, and have started to deviate from course of democratic values, and thus, to make the independent institutions of the State accountable through the constitution.

The parliament is currently in recess and is due to start the next ordinary session in October.

Article 33 (d) of the Parliament Regulation requires one-third of the parliament, or 26 MPs to propose with signatures, to the Speaker of the Parliament to hold a sitting during recess. If the circumstance arises, the speaker of the parliament must comply and hold a sitting within 14 days, including public holidays.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, MDP parliamentary group leader Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that the country has been failing to adhere to democratic principles since the first round of the September 7th presidential polls.

Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) parliamentary group has announced support for MDP’s request to reconvene parliament.

DRP leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali told reporters yesterday that they have decided to support MDP’s request because they believe that it is imperative for a parliamentary committee investigate the “baseless allegations” surrounding the first round of polls. It is a necessary step to maintain peace in the country, Thasmeen said.

Parliamentary group leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), also the party’s presidential candidate, Abdulla Yameen said that, although they do not oppose an extraordinary sitting of parliament, the issues surrounding the September 7th presidential election cannot be solved through the parliament. He also said that it is “unlikely” for the parliament to start holding regular three sittings per week, ahead of the commencement of the regular session in October.