Lawmakers: Parliament will not convene for an extraordinary session

Despite the agreement of all four government coalition leaders to convene the Parliament for an extraordinary session this January, an extraordinary session remains to be scheduled with lawmakers busy with their campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Following the conclusion of the monthly meeting between the four leaders at Hotel Jen in December, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced he will urge lawmakers to convene for an extraordinary session.

Leader of main government coalition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former Maldivian President, Mohamed Nasheed said all four leaders agreed an extraordinary session was crucial to pass the sunset laws to empower two presidential commissions mandated with investigation of murders and enforced disappearances, and corruption and asset recovery.

Parliament regulations require a written submission by two-thirds of the Parliament disclosing the reason for an extraordinary session in order to make it happen. Parliament is required to hold an extraordinary session within 14 days following such a submission.

‘Sun’ has been informed government coalition has received signatures of the minimum 28 lawmakers needed to make the submission. But several lawmakers report the coalition is yet to achieve the numbers required to actually pass the legislature.

“Many of the lawmakers are either busy with their campaign, or abroad for vacation or other purposes. It’s doubtful an extraordinary session under such circumstances will receive the necessary quorum,” said a lawmaker from MDP who spoke to ‘Sun’.

“There will be no extraordinary session. The next session will be when on February 4,” said another lawmaker.

A lawmaker who recently joined the government coalition party, Jumhoory Party (JP), said the circumstances weren’t pressing enough to require an extraordinary session. But that JP lawmakers were willing to convene for an extraordinary session if the government makes the request.

“We, the lawmakers, are showing a united front. There’s no reason for an extraordinary session right now,” said the lawmaker, who recently left Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) for JP.

Parliament went to recess on December 15 after failing to secure the quorum needed to pass the legislature submitted by the government.

President Solih, at the time, had voiced disappointment over the situation.