Parliament sittings out of session are scheduled to begin on Sunday after the Speaker on Wednesday accepted a joint proposal by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats.
Parliament has been in recess since the end of the final session of last year and the first session of this year is due to begin on February 5. However, an extraordinary sitting was proposed yesterday to fast-track some tasks that the MDP and Democrats decided to work together on.
The proposal to hold sittings during recess was submitted with the signature of 38 MPs. The signatories included MPs from the main opposition MDP and The Democrats, which was formed by MPs from a breakaway faction of the MDP.
One important item on the agenda of the sitting scheduled after the proposal was accepted is voting on approval for ministers appointed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to his cabinet. The second item is sending changes made to the mandates of ministries to a committee for review.
One other important task proposed for the sittings out of session is amending the electoral law to prohibit holding elections during Ramadan. The first reading of an amendment bill submitted by Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau from the MDP is also on the agenda for Sunday's sitting.
Shifau proposed changing the law to ban elections during Ramadan after the election of MPs for the 20th Parliament was scheduled for March 17, which would be the seventh day of Ramadan.
Political parties have been expressing concern over holding the election during Ramadan.
