Parliament sitting concludes after quarrels and zero work

The Parliament sitting concluded on Tuesday, without any work on the agenda done.

On Monday, when the Parliament re-convened after a two-month recess – the speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed announced that the legislative body had not received letters from MPs who joined The Democrats – confirming the change in their party.

He said that changes to the composition of the Parliament’s permanent committees cannot be made until the Parliament receives the letters.

This drew immediate outrage from MPs from the main ruling MDP, and prompted for the sitting to be cut short.

The changes to the composition were on the agenda again, on Tuesday.

But as soon as the sitting began, several MPs from the MDP and the opposition PPM-PNC coalition began expressing displeasure, accusing the Parliament’s presidency of hindering the work of the legislative body.

Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who presided the sitting, called the name of Kelaa MP Ibrahim Shareef for disruptive behavior. But as he did yesterday, Shareef refused to exit the chamber, and obstructed other MPs from speaking.

Nasheed is on an official trip, while Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla refused to attend the sitting due to the no-confidence motion against her.

Afeef had defended against the criticism levied against the Parliament’s presidency, which only served to escalate verbal exchanges.

The sitting concluded without any work done.