Parliament sitting cancelled amid heated arguments

The extraordinary parliament sitting scheduled for this morning has been cancelled shortly after it began, due to shouting and heated arguments between MPs.

Today’s sitting was scheduled after 29 members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) proposed with signatures, to the speaker of the parliament, to hold a sitting during recess.

The sitting was scheduled for 9:00 a.m., but commenced at 9:30 a.m. due to a problem with a microphone system.

Tools such as whistles were used by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed and Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed to make noise in the parliament hall.

Heated arguments took place between members of MDP and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

While MDP members were accused of ‘vote fraud’ by others, several members were also seen trying to control the scene.

Maafannu-West MP Abdulla Abdul Raheem was speaking when the sitting was suspended by the speaker. PPM and MDP members crowded around Abdulla Abdul Raheem’s microphone, and made noise while he was speaking. Some MPs also tried to obstruct the administrative staff of the parliament.

Numerous procedural issues were also raised by MPs at today’s sitting.

Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid said that the sitting will resume after discussions with parliamentary group leaders.