People’s Majlis Goes Virtual with Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 14th of April 2020

People’s Majlis Goes Virtual with Microsoft Teams

The Maldives, one of the world’s smallest and most remote countries, is conducting virtual online parliamentary sessions as it battles the COVID-19 outbreak. Its 87 lawmakers are using Microsoft 365, which includes Microsoft Teams video conferencing technology, instead of physically being present at the parliament house, known as the People’s Majlis.

The lawmakers can take part in debates and cast votes in real-time while maintaining social distancing and self-isolation safely at home, all in the knowledge that their virtual interactions are secure. The Parliament’s Media and Communications Director Hassan Ziyau told local media: “Despite members not being physically present in the parliamentary chambers, the work of the parliament will continue as normal, with all parliamentary functions, such as votes, debates, and committee meetings taking place.”

The Speaker and former President, Mohamed Nasheed told reporters, “Parliaments worldwide cannot just stop representing their people during this crisis. The institutions of democracy must continue to function. The Maldivian Parliament will go on, meeting online, and all its work will continue unimpeded.”