@prashanthamine
Mumbai: The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a challenge before Parliaments, State Legislatures and legislative bodies around the world on how to unlock themselves and restart doing their primary duties of legislating laws and ratifying decisions taken during the lockdown period. Recently, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly yet again postponed its decision to hold a restricted monsoon session to a later date in September.
Similarly, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha too are grappling with of how to hold a session while taking due precautions. Parliamentary rules of business, Rule 266 and Rule 389 have the provisions to conduct the proceedings.
Under Rule 266 sittings of committees in private within the precincts of the Parliament complex or outside shall be decided by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Whereas, Rule 389 provides powers to the Lok Sabha Speaker to deal with issues not covered under any of the existing rules.
Information gleaned from bodies like GovLab, Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and House of Commons, United Kingdom, show that Parliaments and State Legislatures around the world have begun to unlock their doors to Virtual Parliaments. Many legislative bodies have begun holding virtual sessions Online, using Apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and even Apps to enable elected members to vote on bills and decisions.
Federal legislatures in Canada and USA are facing a unique problem of how to hold virtual sessions given the vast time differences brought about by different Time Zones from east to west coasts.
In Canada on May 17, the Parliament did hold a virtual session for its 338 Members of Parliament (MP’s) wherein only emergency bills were passed. No MP participating was allowed to take screenshots of the virtual session and post it on the social media. Connectivity was another problem faced as many MP’s could not login.
The House of Commons in the United Kingdom (Great Britain) has devised novel ways to hold virtual debates. Prayer cards were used to reserve benches with green and red symbols indicating where the members could sit while maintaining a minimum six feet distancing. On April 21, screens were put up at the Westminster whereby MP’s were allowed to speak remotely some from their constituency offices while participating in the Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs).
It is interesting to note here that the UK Parliament has devised an App called ‘Members Hub’. The App was used by British MP’s while voting on April 23. The MP’s used the App to register their vote in favor or against a bill in a given window time of 15 minutes.
In USA although the House of Representatives and the Senate are not in session, several state legislatures are in session. On April 16, about 60 former Congressmen participated in a ‘Mock Remote Hearing’ for committees. Many state legislatures are using altered or remote voting methods. Some state legislatures have suspended rules for attendance, quorum and voting.
The European Union Parliament (EU Parliament) is temporarily using remote participation. The EU MP’s are sent ballots by Email which contain their names, which they have to sign, register their vote and return it back via Email before the voting closes online.
In Argentina, the Deputies are using Zoom and Video Conferencing Apps. They have to access the online proceedings using digital signatures through a token system. The Chamber of Deputies has devised a new remote working platform ‘Senado Movil’ wherein access is through username and password.
In Chile, the Chilean parliament and its chair of committees has found a way out to control members from speaking for long hours. The chair of committees operates a clock which displays the time of the session and mutes or unmutes members. For voting each member appears on the screen and tells his or her vote.
In Brazil, the Chamber of Deputies uses an App called ‘Infoleq’ for voting. Lawmakers in Brazilian parliament have to register in advance using security code sent on their smart phones. The challenge was to fit in all the 513 Deputies (MP’s) and hence most of the Deputies want the Remote Sessions to continue. The 87 MP’s of the Peoples Majlis, the parliament of Maldives have been using Microsoft Teams to hold virtual sessions.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also grappling with how to hold assembly elections in Bihar. South Korea, recently held its nationwide legislative elections. Voters queued up at polling booths, maintained strict social distancing, the voters were given hand sanitizers, gloves, face masks and were subjected to temperature checks.
In Denmark, not more than 10 members were allowed to enter the parliament building. Members were made to form a queue while ensuring a two feet distance. Not more than 10 members at a time were allowed to cast their vote on legislations put to vote.
In France, the French parliament has ‘Questions to Government Ministers’ every week. However, only Group Leaders and Spokespersons are allowed to remain present in Chambers. Only 2 Deputies (MP’s) from each party group are allowed to attend.
The German Bundestag (parliament) has lowered its quorum to 25 percent and allowed remote participation by members. In Ireland, The Dail meetings of the House of Oireachtas are held physically, but only one-third of the members are allowed to attend the meetings. Written questions and answers were reinstated.
In Sweden’s Riksdag, officials and politicians are allowed to work from home. Before a voting, political parties decide on which members shall remain present and vote. The votes are recorded by voice vote or votes using voting buttons.
The ruling party and the opposition in the Australian parliament have agreed to put a cap on how many members shall attend the meetings. The rule however does not apply to ‘Cross Benchers’ (sort of Independents). The authorities have banned the entry of visitors to public galleries, school tours and politicians have been asked to restrict number of staff members accompanying them to the parliament.
In neighbouring New Zealand, the house meetings were not being held for some time with the level 4 alert. Since April 28, the New Zealand parliament has been meeting on its usual sitting days.
