Parliament Extends Final Parliamentary Session to 4 December

The People’s Majlis has voted to extend its third and final parliamentary session of the year until 4 December in order to complete pending legislative work, including key amendments to the Decentralisation Act.

The motion to extend the term was proposed by Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla and passed with the support of 55 MPs, while seven voted against it. The Speaker told members the extension was needed to complete certain outstanding tasks but did not disclose further details.

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Under parliamentary regulations, the Majlis holds three sessions each year: from 1 February to 15 May, from 1 June to 15 August, and from 1 October until the end of November. 

Among the main items still before Parliament are amendments linked to the Decentralisation Act. While constitutional changes to dissolve atoll councils were approved the previous day, revisions to two related laws have yet to be finalised. The government has also proposed changes to reduce the number of elected members in local councils.

The bill to amend the Decentralisation Act was submitted by Ibrahim Falah, Leader of the PNC parliamentary group and MP for Inguraidhoo. It introduces a tiered structure for council size, under which islands with fewer than 2,000 residents would elect three councillors instead of the current five, while islands with populations above 2,000 would elect five councillors instead of the current seven.

Provisions guaranteeing women’s representation would be retained but adjusted to reflect the smaller councils. Bodies electing three members would reserve one seat for women, while those with five members would continue to reserve two seats.