Parliament Sitting Abruptly Cancelled Hours After MPs Told Session Would Proceed

A parliamentary sitting scheduled for today has been abruptly cancelled less than 24 hours after MPs were informed that the session would take place, prompting fresh concerns over the regularity of People’s Majlis proceedings.

North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) shared a message from the parliamentary administration on X, showing that MPs were first informed at 1:30am that the sitting would proceed, with the time to be announced later. At 10:01am today, MPs were informed that the sitting would not take place and that further information would follow.

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Kudu criticised the abrupt change, warning that irregular proceedings could undermine public confidence in the legislature.

“If the sittings of the People’s Majlis—one of the three branches of the state—cannot proceed in an orderly fashion, there is a serious risk that the public’s trust and confidence in this institution will be completely lost,” he said.

ރޭ ދަންވަރު 01:30 ގައި ފުރަތަމަ މެސެޖު. އޮންނާނެ، ގަޑިވެސް އަންގާނަން.
މިއަދު 10:01 ނޯންނާނެ. ފަހުން އަންގާނަން.
ދައުލަތުގެ ތިން ބާރުގެ ތެރެއިން އެއް ބާރު ކަމުގައިވާ ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ޖަލްސާތައް ނިޒާމީ ހަމަތަކުގެ މަތިން ކުރިއަށް ނުގެންދެވޭނަމަ، އެ މުއައްސަސާއަށް… pic.twitter.com/r6ylNsIxoa— MohamedKudu (@mohamedkudu) August 13, 2026

The latest cancellation comes amid continued scrutiny of the scheduling and conduct of parliamentary proceedings during the current term, in which the ruling PNC holds a supermajority.

Last month, the Majlis did not hold sittings for five consecutive days without an announcement from the Speaker or parliamentary administration. Following a sitting on July 15, no parliamentary session was held for the next five days.

The PNC-led Parliament has faced repeated criticism over the frequency of sittings and the amount of time allocated to discussing bills and amendments.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has previously raised concerns about the pace of parliamentary work and criticised the functioning of parliamentary committees. The party has pointed to the MVR 20,000 monthly committee allowance paid to MPs, while raising concerns that some committee meetings have lasted less than 15 minutes.

Public criticism has also focused on committee meetings being concluded within five or 10 minutes or cancelled when their scheduled time expires.

The irregular scheduling of sittings and concerns over the volume of parliamentary work have continued to attract public attention, particularly in light of the salaries and allowances paid to MPs from the state budget.