Parliament extends second session to 21 August

Parliament has extended its second session of the year, originally scheduled to end on 15 August, to 21 August.

Under the rules of procedure, the second session normally concludes on 15 August. Announcing the decision in Tuesday's, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the extension was needed to complete pending parliamentary work.

“With important tasks to be completed by the Parliament during this session, I intend to extend the term until 21 August,” he said.

The motion to extend the session passed with 59 votes in favour and 10 votes against, all from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Prior to the vote, MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil opposed the motion. He expressed concern over the government’s proposal to amend the Attorney General’s Office Act, noting that the law had been passed in the first session this year and was now being amended again.

Nazil said:

Bills currently under committee review include amendments to the Drugs Act to increase penalties for drug trafficking and the Housing Bill. Nazil said both require detailed study.

Speaker Abdul Raheem responded that the extension was not intended to rush legislation.

“This is the People's Majlis; if you want to do something that is relevant to the people, you have to give priority to those things,” he said.

He added that extending the term would help expedite services to the public and called for cross-party cooperation.

“The more laws are amended, the more they will be shaped according to the times,” Abdul Raheem said.

According to parliamentary rules, members take a one-and-a-half-month recess between sessions. The third session is scheduled to begin on 1 October.