Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting also cancelled with only nine members in attendance

Similar to Monday, Tuesday’s parliamentary siting was canceled as the quorum required to hold the sitting was not met.  

The third sitting of the third session, slated for Tuesday after cancellation on Monday, was yet again canceled due to lack of quorum.

Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who presided over the sitting, concluded the sitting shortly after it had commenced. Only nine MPs had been in attendance.

The quorum, as per the parliament’s regulations, is 22 MPs.

Many MPs are presently touring atolls on campaign trips for the upcoming presidential elections slated for September 9^th.  Some MPs are direct contestants in the election, as either presidential candidates or running mates. Therewith, many MPs were not in attendance for the sittings that had been held in the third session prior to this.

Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb is contesting the election on the presidential ticket of The Democrats. Meanwhile, parliament’s majority leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam has been chosen as the running mate of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, contesting on main ruling MDP’s ticket. Opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s running mate is Faresmaathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef.

None of the sittings held in the third session of the parliament so far could proceed due to various reasons.

At the commencement of the first sitting, Speaker Nasheed said the legislative body had not received letters from MPs who joined The Democrats – confirming the change in their party. Therefore, he stressed that the parliament cannot proceed with changes to the composition of the Parliament’s standing committees, as stipulated in the agenda. Names of several MPs were called for disruptive behavior, who refused to leave the chamber and continued their disruptions. Nasheed, therefore, concluded the sitting citing the MPs were not letting him continue.

The second sitting also had the same motion on the agenda, which was also cut short by various obstructions.

The third sitting slated for Monday, with the same motion on agenda, was canceled due to lack of quorum

The agenda for today’s sitting also included the motion on the standing committees.

Following major disagreements within MDP, MPs who supported Nasheed defected from the party, which resulted in changes to the parliament’s composition during the last session. The standing committees were reconstituted, to reflect the changes, after holding an extraordinary sitting out of session. With MPs supporting Nasheed signing to The Democrats, the new political party they formed, the composition of the parliament has changed once again.

Meanwhile, some MPs who defected MDP to join The Democrats, have rejoined MDP as well.