Parties ready to open Majlis after

Political parties represented in the People’s Majlis have come to “confidential arrangement”, which has broken the deadlock on the opening of the 17th Majlis for its third annual Session.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), headed by former President Mohamed Nasheed, refused to let the Majlis session take place on the scheduled date of 1st March, saying that the Government of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik should accede to their demands of an early presidential election before the Majlis opens.

However, new reports confirm that parties, including MDP, have agreed to go ahead with the opening of the Majlis for the year. Same reports also say that parties have decided to keep all the specifications of the arrangements hidden for the time being. It has been said that “disclosure of the details of the arrangements would work to close the doors of progress”.

Ibrahim “Iboo” Mohamed Salih, Leader of MDP Parliamentary Group, said today that hopes were high that the Majlis would soon begin for the year, as a result of ongoing discussions. He also declined to give any details about the discussions.

When asked whether the Government had agreed to an early presidential election, Iboo said that he “would rather not say anything on the issue”. “If I comment on that, it might disrupt the progress of events as they are now”, said Iboo.

Iboo also confirmed that his party had requested Majlis Speaker Abdullah Shahid to speed up the process and conduct the Opening Session of the Majlis at the earliest instance possible.

Abdullah Mausoom, Parliamentary Group Leader of the Divehi Rayythunge party (DRP) also said that they were “impatiently waiting for the Opening Session of the Majlis for this year”. He too declined to give any details about ongoing discussions among political parties.

Reports say that the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) is not involved in the discussions among the parties about the opening of the Majlis, as PPM is not currently represented in the Majlis. Although PPM has a large number of members who sit in the Majlis, the party is not officially allowed to be represented on the Majlis floor, as none of those members were elected to the Majlis as PPM candidates.

Abdullah Yamin, the unofficial Parliamentary Group Leader of PPM, said today that his party was looking for a quick opening of the Majlis, even though it is not participating in the discussions now being held. He said that PPM had sent a letter to Speaker Abdullah Shahid, requesting for the Majlis to be opened as soon as possible.

MDP parliamentarians blocked the opening of the Majlis on 1st of this month, the officially scheduled date, because they did not want to allow President Waheed to deliver the State of Nation Address in the Majlis. MDP has accused the government of being “rebel”, and has refused to acknowledge Waheed’s presidency. MDP members perpetrated violence inside the Majlis to hinder Speaker Abdullah Shahid from entering the Chamber to begin the session. The day has been described by many as “the Black Day” in the history of Maldivian democratic life.