Parliament accepts resolution to cap number of MPs, sends it to committee

A resolution submitted by a senior lawmaker from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), seeking the opinion of the Parliament regarding capping the number of parliamentary representatives, has been accepted into the Parliament, and forwarded to the Independent Institutions Committee for review.

The resolution was submitted on June 26 by Ibrahim Shujau, the parliamentary representative for Baarah constituency, and senior deputy leader of PNC’s parliamentary group.

The Parliament engaged in two days of debate over the resolution, after which it was accepted with a unanimous vote of 78 on Wednesday afternoon.

It was sent o the Independent Institutions Committee for review.

In his resolution, Shujau noted that past legislative revisions to cap the number of parliamentarians failed to receive support of lawmakers. The resolution called for an open debate and exchange of ideas on the subject.

During the debate on the resolution, Parliament’s deputy speaker, Dhiggaru representative Ahmed Nazim suggested revising the constitution so that there needs to be a parliamentary representative for every 10,000 constituents, instead of the current 5,000. Nazim said it would cap parliament seats at 71, and help maintain it at 70 seats within the next 25 years.

Many PNC parliamentarians agreed.

Article 71 of the Constitution:

The membership of the People’s Majlis shall be determined in accordance with the following principles:

1. Two members for the first 5,000 residents registered for each administrative division or two members for administrative divisions with less than 5,000 residents; and

2. Where the residents registered to an administrative division exceed 5,000 residents, one additional member for each group of 5,000 residents in excess of the first 5,000.

The number of seats at the Parliament has increased from 77 in the 17th parliamentary assembly, to 85 in the 18th parliamentary assembly, to 87 in the 19th parliamentary assembly, to 93 in the incumbent 20th assembly.

Past efforts to cap the number of parliamentarians failed after political parties failed to reach a consensus. The incumbent PNC administration has proposed a legislative agenda to limit seats.