The date on which the opposition will be responding to the presidential address delivered by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the inaugural session at the parliament has been changed.
While minority leader MP Ahmed Saleem was previously scheduled to deliver the response during Monday's parliament sitting, the number has now been rescheduled to Wednesday.
According to the Parliament Secretariat, the opposition has been informed of the update.
According to the parliament rules, the members of the parliament have to respond to the presidential address delivered at the inaugural session. The rules state that the majority or minority leader of the party represented by the most number of MPs in the parliament, with the exemption of the party the president belongs to, has to respond to the address.
While 65 members of main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) sits on the parliament, the second-most number of members are from opposing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), with six members.Therefore, as the minority leader, the response to the address will be delivered by the party's parliamentary group leader and Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem.
The opposition recently held a meeting with the MPs of the remaining parties, and independent members seeking their opinion on the presidential address. This includes three members from PPM's sister party Peoples' National Congress, five members from ruling-coalition partner Jumhooree Party, four independent members and leader of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party MP Abdulla Jabir.
