Parliament to reconvene for new session on Oct 7

The Parliament is set to reconvene for the third session of the year on October 7.

The Parliament had gone to recess after the second session of the year on August 22. But it had held three extraordinary sittings to expedite work on appointing a new prosecutor general and passing key legislature.

After concluding the third such extraordinary sitting on Tuesday morning, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced that the Parliament will not be holding any more extraordinary sittings during the recess.

He announced that the new session will begin on October 7.

During Tuesday’s sitting, the Parliament voted in approval of appointing Abbas Shareef as the new prosecutor general. It also passes amendments to the Companies Act.

The 93-member new parliamentary assembly took office on May 28. The main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority at the Parliament, with 75 seats. Three parties aligned with the PNC also hold seats: the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) holds two, while the Maldives National Party (MNP) and Jumhoory Party (JP) holds one each. The three parties are aligned with the PNC.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds 12 seats. The remaining two seats are held by independents.