Parliament to Delay Recess by One Month to Debate Electoral Laws at President’s Request

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Federal Parliament has voted to extend its sittings by one month to expedite the debate and passage of election related laws following a request by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Addressing a joint session of the two chambers of the Federal Parliament Saturday, President Mohamud asked the lawmakers to delay their recess by a month ‘for the sake of the country’. He urged the lawmakers to put it extra time to conclude requisite electoral laws before breaking for the end of the year break.

“I am asking the Parliament to give the Somali people the opportunity to have free elections through the approval of the necessary laws. I am asking the Parliament to postpone the vacation period for one month, so that the laws to be implemented in the country will be passed,” the President said.

President Mohamud said the nation was experiencing a momentous where it is on the verge of transitioning for clan based electoral systems to a fully-fledged democratic system where every Somali voter gets to directly choose their representatives.

The President’s request followed the recently concluded National Consultative Council meeting which resolved that the next general elections should be based on a one-person-one-vote system. The Council also agreed that all Federal Member State elections be held on a uniform date in August 2025.

There is still debate as to whether the elections will be based on First-Past-The-Post system where the candidate with the highest number of votes carries the day of on Proportional Representation.