Parliament opens second session, then immediately adjourns for a week

The second session of the 20th Parliament for this year began Monday but was adjourned for a week.

The only item on Monday’s agenda was electing a member to the vacant post of deputy speaker. The sitting elected PNC Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem to the position.

After the vote, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced that the next sitting of Parliament will be held next Monday.

Under parliamentary rules, sittings for this session begin on Monday and continue until August 15.

The rules state that the first session of each year runs from February 1 to May 15. However, this year’s first session was pushed to last month due to the move to remove Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim from the post of deputy speaker.

Nazim resigned half an hour before Sunday’s sitting.

It is noteworthy that the first session of this year did not proceed regularly. Committee meetings were also not held consistently.

Government‑majority MPs receive high salaries and extensive state‑funded benefits. The state budget allocates significant funds annually to run the parliamentary administration. However, there is persistent public criticism that MPs do not work in proportion to the salaries and allowances they receive.