Third parliamentary term extended until Dec 7

The parliament has decided to extend its third term of the current year until December 7, 2023.

The decision was announced by Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam while commencing Monday's sitting.

Aslam said that the term has been extended to complete 2024 state budget bill along with other key tasks that require conclusion before the term winds up.

"As such, voting on this matter will be called during today's sitting," Aslam said.

Majority of the parliament's third term experienced a deadlock arising from the no-confidence motion submitted by the then ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) against former Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

With a subsequent no-confidence motion against the Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, she and Nasheed recused from presiding as chair of the sittings which further impeded the parliament's proceedings.

Amid the limbo, several crucial bills including the state budget bill remained stalled.

However, parliament has been engrossed with work related to the budget bill since Nasheed stepped down and Aslam was elected to succeed him.

At Sunday's sitting, November 26, a total of 51 members concluded their debates on the budget bill. The bill, currently submitted to the committee for review, will be submitted to the parliament floor again for a second round of debates.

Besides the budget bills, several crucial bills are currently in the works at the parliament.