Parliament plans extraordinary sitting in recess

The Parliament, which went into recess last week, is preparing to hold extraordinary sittings this week.

The second session of Parliament was originally adjourned until last Thursday for “important work” but ended abruptly during Monday’s sitting, with the Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announcing that Parliament had gone on break. According to parliamentary rules, the second term ends in August, but it was extended for another week before the recess was declared.

Members of both the ruling PNC and the opposition MDP confirmed to Atoll Times that discussions are underway to hold two extraordinary sittings, although no official notice has been issued.

“Now they are saying that the sitting will be held on the 27th and 28th [Wednesday and Thursday],” an MDP member said.

A PNC member said one of the purposes of the sittings is to appoint a member to fill a vacancy at the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

The most recent sitting before recess included the introduction of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar. The bill, which would give the government regulatory control over the media, was also debated on the same day. Some members have suggested that further debate on the bill could take place during the extraordinary sittings.

Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla and the parliamentary administration were not available for comment.

Meanwhile, journalists have continued to campaign against the bill. The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), the Maldives Media Council and several international organisations have issued statements calling for its withdrawal.