Yemen parliament to stay ruling as Shura council expands
Yemen parliament to stay ruling as Shura council expands
Political consultations to end the current crisis are expected to result in the formation of a presidential council and an expanded Shura council.
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Protests took place in Ibb against the Houthis' constiutional amendment [Anadolu]
Yemen's political actors have been wrangling through negotiations in an attempt to find a solution to the country's political crisis.
Politicians are expected to reach a provisional agreement that will retain the parliament dissolved by the Houthis earlier this month and form a presidential council in addition.
Most parties have reportedly iinitially agreed to this arrangement, including the Houthis, who are taking part in the talks. No solid agreement has yet been reached, political sources told al-Araby.
Abdul Aziz Jabari, an MP who represents the liberal Justice and Construction Party, said Yemeni political powers, with the exception of the Nasserist Unionist People's Organisation (NUPO), would resume consultations later today in a Sanaa hotel, under the sponsorship of Jamal Benomar, the UN's special adviser on Yemen.
The MP said the initial deal stipulates retaining the parliament and expanding the Shura council from 200 to 300 members.
Politicians are expected to reach a provisional agreement that will retain the parliament dissolved by the Houthis earlier this month and form a presidential council in addition.
Most parties have reportedly iinitially agreed to this arrangement, including the Houthis, who are taking part in the talks. No solid agreement has yet been reached, political sources told al-Araby.
Abdul Aziz Jabari, an MP who represents the liberal Justice and Construction Party, said Yemeni political powers, with the exception of the Nasserist Unionist People's Organisation (NUPO), would resume consultations later today in a Sanaa hotel, under the sponsorship of Jamal Benomar, the UN's special adviser on Yemen.
The MP said the initial deal stipulates retaining the parliament and expanding the Shura council from 200 to 300 members.
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The parliament and the expanded Shura council will form the government. |
The parliament and the expanded Shura council will form the government, according to Ahmed Kels, secretary-general of the Unionist Assembly.
Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all political powers attending the talks, except the NUPO, had agreed to form a five- or seven-member presidential council, representing all groups.
They had also agreed the parliament would accept President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's resignation, and that the new presidential council would take an oath before parliament.
Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resigned on 22 January, after Houthis seized the Republican palace in Sanaa. Parliament, however, reportedly refused to accept their resignations.
UN envoy Benomar has been urging political parties to continue mediation efforts in pursuit of Yemen's national interest
"Talks took place in a constructive atmosphere characterised by mutual respect, despite being initially animated - which is not an unusual occurrence in consultations of this nature," he posted on his Facebook page.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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