People

After extended discussions failed to reach a solution, today’s meeting of the People’s Majlis has been adjourned for tomorrow. Announcing the adjournment, al-Ustad Ahmed Mohamed, the Secretary General of the Majlis said that the meeting was adjourned for tomorrow because repeated attempts to reach a resolution on the issue of composition of Majlis Standing Committees failed. “Today’s meeting is not over, but it shall be continued tomorrow,” said the Secretary General.

Today’s meeting was suspended during the session three times, first of which came only five minutes into the meeting. Some members raised points of order, objecting the tabling of the issue of standing committee-composition in the agenda for today’s meeting. Heated discussions followed, and the Speaker decided to adjourn the meeting to discuss the point and find a solution so that the meeting could be continued according to the agenda.

The Speaker attempted to resume the meeting at 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:00 am without any success. Due to the differences between the major parties over composition of Majilis Standing Committees, the Second Session of the Majlis this year has not seen any productivity, with members often raising points of order and wrestling over them instead of doing any meaningful work.

The issue of composition of Standing Committees arose when a number of MPs from the Opposition DRP ditched their party during the May-recess and joined the ruling party, causing heated controversies all over the country and also considerable dissatisfaction among the people of their constituencies. As of now, MDP holds 45% of Majlis seats, and DRP/PA coalition controls 39%, meaning that in each Standing Committee, MDP is entitled to 5 seats as opposed to 4 seats for the DRP/PA coalition, leaving two seats for the other parties and independent candidates.