MPs get remote work option except for voting

Members of the parliament are now permitted to carry out their parliamentary work remotely by using digital tools.

The Speaker’s Council on Tuesday took the decision in line with the Emergency Power Act currently in force and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, said an official press release.

The lawmakers may follow parliament’s work and leave legislative initiatives digitally, but not vote.

Working remotely is recognised as parliamentary work similar to working being physically present in the parliament, if notified of beforehand, the release said.

Only necessary meetings of the parliamentary committees are held. Meetings of committees and parliamentary groups have been moved to larger spaces, including auditoriums, and expert hearings are executed remotely or through written statements.

Committees can organise unofficial meetings remotely, if necessary, for these hearings.

To ensure quorum, the Speaker’s Council has asked the committees to make a motion on choosing additional alternate members.