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Parliament Secretariat unsure when sittings will commence

The Parliament Secretariat has revealed the date to begin parliament sittings are unclear.

The parliament for the year was opened on February 7. Normally parliament sittings are held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. While renovation of the parliament building is underway, it is believed the sittings will commence once the renovations are completed.

Meanwhile, the joint parliamentary group of the government coalition revealed important bills will be passed once the parliament is reconvened.

Delivering the Presidential Address, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih highlighted the amendments submitted for a number of laws by the administration, as part of the ongoing efforts to rectify the constitutional framework of the state.

In this regard, the president underlined a bill has been submitted to criminalise unlawful acquisition of wealth, which has been designed by the administration to raise the penalties for senior state officials implicated in such cases. He further reiterated there will be no opportunity for corruption within the administration and reassured the administration firmly abides by a policy of zero-tolerance to corruption.

While the parliament cycle is conducted in three terms, the first term will be from February through April. The current term will be the last term of the 18th parliament.

The 19th parliament will commence in June following the parliamentary elections in April.