The Speaker of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, said the law passed by the House of the People to extend the term of the government was unconstitutional and that it should have been brought to the Upper House.
In an interview with the BBC, the speaker of the Somali upper house also confirmed that relations between him and the speaker of the House of the People parliament were rocky.
“Article 55 of the Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia states that the Somali parliament consists of two houses, the House of the People and the Upper House. “I can tell you that every law made by the Somali parliament must be approved by both houses. Once it is approved by both houses, it must go to the president and he will sign it,” said Abdi Hashi.
He emphasized that “one house does not have to legislate alone in such critical matter of national importance”. ” We are not in good terms with the Speaker of the Upper House at the moment due to the wrongdoing of the Speaker. “Because we are working on a law that violates the law, there is no such thing in this world,” He said.
He added; “Know one thing, the constitution does not give parliament an extension or to a president, let alone one House of parliament doing that, even both Houses do not even have the right.”
The Speaker of the Upper House and the President of the Federal Government have previously disagreed on one of the most contentious issues regarding the election, which is related to the electoral process in the northern regions.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo penned a resolution by the House of Representatives to extend his term by two years despite strong opposition from the opposition and some countries in the international community.
BY OSMAN HUSSEIN ALI
