Parliament’s standing committees reconstituted; chairs being appointed

The standing committees of the parliament were reconstituted on Wednesday after almost four months of the legislative body’s works being at a standstill – subsequent to which appointing chairs to the committees has begun.  

The works of the parliament were at a standstill during the past couple of months after over a dozen MPs from the MDP had walked out of the party following internal conflict earlier this year – prompting the need to re-compose the committees. Amid the turmoil, MDP submitted no-confidence motions against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla.

They recused themselves from presiding over sittings, leaving Parliament at a deadlock.

The Parliament needed to reconstitute the committees again, when Nasheed and MPs loyal to him joined a new party – the Democrats. More MPs switched between MDP and the Democrats later, prompting the need to reconstitute the committees, again.

While the committees were reconstituted on Wednesday, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons for several committees have now been appointed. They are;

• Budget Committee: Kinbidhoo MP Mohamed Nashiz (MDP) as chairperson and Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob (MDP) Abdulla as deputy chairperson
• Economic Affairs Committee: Alifushi MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain (MDP) as chairperson and Milandhoo MP Ali Riza (MDP) as deputy chairperson
• SOE Committee: Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa (MDP) as chairperson
• General Purpose Committee: Kurendhoo MP Abdul Ghani (MDP) as chairperson
• Regulations Committee: Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir (MDA) as chairperson
• National Development and Heritage Committee: Baarah MP Ahmed Abdulla (MDP) chairperson

Prior to this, all standing committees of the parliament were chaired by MDP MPs.