Parliamentarians’ Trips To Their Constituency Classified As Official Visits!

In the Parliament’s sitting held this morning, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed had announced the decision made by the Parliament’s General Purpose Committee on Sunday, to classify trips by parliamentarians to their constituencies as official visits. The decision comes at a time where many parliamentarians have requested leave to travel to their constituency in order to campaign for the upcoming Local Council Elections.

This decision was reached in reference to Article 240 of the Parliament’s regulations which refers to the approval to parliamentarians for trips at the Speaker’s discretion. It goes on to state that the Speaker may approve for a parliamentarian or parliamentarian to travel within or out of the country for a related purpose of the parliament whilst they are in session.

Following this decision, a written request must be submitted by a parliamentarian to the Parliament’s Secretariat for their trips to the constituency to be approved as official visits whereas parliamentarians cannot set about a trip without this approval. Those who are on such an approved visit will have their attendance marked in both general sittings and committee meetings as on official visits whereas if they wish to join a committee meeting, it shall be arranged remotely. 

(Photo: Majilis)