Dispute over Standing Committee Composition to be Settled in the Majlis

A prolonged dispute over the composition of Standing Committees in the People’s Majlis (Parliament) has been placed for resolution in the Majlis, after a lengthy process of discussions between the Ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the main Opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) resulted in stalemate. The issue has been included in the agenda for the Majlis meeting due tomorrow. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed, Secretary General of the People’s Majlis, said that members in the Majlis would discuss and decide how the issue would be resolved tomorrow on the floor.

The issue of composition of Standing Committees arose when a number of MPs from the Opposition DRP ditched their party during the May-recess and joined the ruling party, causing heated controversies all over the country and also considerable dissatisfaction among the people of their constituencies. As of now, MDP holds 45% of Majlis seats, and DRP/PA coalition controls 39%, meaning that in each Standing Committee, MDP is entitled to 5 seats as opposed to 4 seats for the DRP/PA coalition, leaving two seats for the other parties and independent candidates.

Meanwhile, DRP has announced today that there would be a meeting of the party Council tonight, to come to a final decision on the long-awaited coalition with Jumhoory Party. If this coalition realizes, DRP/PA alliance would win back their majority stand in the Majlis, and would also become entitled to 5 seats in each Standing Committee. Jumhoory Party council has already given its approval to the coalition, about which the leaders of the two parties have already come to terms.

On the other hand, MDP Parliamentary Group leader, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Salih said today that the decision to place the issue on the Majlis floor made on Tuesday has not followed any further discussions, and that he did not believe doing so to be the right course of action. He said that provisions in the rules of procedure clearly stipulated how the composition of Standing Committees should be decided, and that there was no necessity to discuss the matter in the Majlis itself.