Wolesi Jirga announces recess without electing speaker

Executive Panel of Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House of Afghan parliament, on Tuesday announced a recess until after Eid al-Fitr as parliamentarians again failed to elect their speaker, but some MPs opposing the decision called it illegal and promised to continue convening Jirga’s session.
The 17th legislative term of the Lower House launched on May 5, but still did not succeed to choose the speaker for the house after at least three rounds of elections. Since then Jirga held 11 general sessions but failed to resolve the issues around the election of the speaker.
On Tuesday after long discussions the executive panel of the Jirga, which was tasked to manage the house on Monday, announced days off until the end of Eid holidays.
Abdul Khaliq, a representative of northern Balk province in the house, told reporters that the decision was made after an open election initiated by the panel because of the absence of some MPs.
He said some of the MPs were out of the country to perform their Haji Umra and some went to their provinces.
But at least 13 members of the Jirga opposed the decision, saying no one reserves the right to cancel meetings of the house.
Mirwaiz Yasini, representing eastern Nangarhar province, said:” We will come tomorrow, Wednesday, to hold the general session, because as long as the Jirga lacks the speaker, according to the internal rules its meeting cannot be called off.”
Gul Rahman Hamdard, another MP, also called the decision a brazen violation of law, adding that the panel before reaching any consensus among the members announced the recess.