King to inaugurate the 20th Parliament's third ordinary session tomorrow

Following the Throne Speech, the Senate will hold a session to select members of the committee tasked with responding to the Throne Speech. Subsequently, the House of Representatives will hold a session chaired by the longest-serving representative, during which members of the Permanent Bureau (Speaker and his First and Second Deputies and two Assistants) will be elected.

Article 3, paragraph (a), of the House of Representatives' internal regulations states: "After the representatives return to their chamber, the House holds its first session, chaired by the longest-serving representative. If more than one representative have equal seniority, the one who has served the most parliamentary terms among them shall preside. If they are equal in terms, the oldest shall preside. The two youngest attending members shall assist him. If any of them is unable to perform his duties for any reason, he may be replaced by the next youngest member in the chamber. Their duties end upon the election of the Speaker."

Article 14, paragraph (a), of the internal regulations states: "The candidate who obtains an absolute majority of the votes of those present shall be considered elected Speaker, if there are more than two candidates. If there are only two candidates, the one who obtains a relative majority shall be considered elected. If votes are tied, a draw shall be conducted between them."

It is noted that recent amendments to the House of Representatives' internal regulations require one of the members of the Permanent Bureau to be a female representative. Article 7, paragraph (b), states: "If a woman does not win the position of Speaker or one of the two Deputy Speaker positions, the right to run for one of the two Assistant Speaker positions shall be restricted to women, according to guidelines established by the Permanent Bureau for this purpose."

Afterward, the House of Representatives will elect a committee to draft the response to the Throne Speech, prior to its approval by the House and submission to His Majesty within 14 days of the delivery of the Throne Speech.

It is expected that the House will subsequently elect members of 20 parliamentary committees.

It is noted that the current House of Representatives was elected under the 2022 Election Law, which allowed full participation of party lists for the first time in the history of parliamentary elections, allocating 41 seats out of 138 to political parties.

His Majesty’s Royal Decree was issued on September 30 last year, postponing the convening of Parliament for its ordinary session until November 2, 2026.

His Majesty’s Royal Decree was also issued calling Parliament to convene for its ordinary session starting Monday, the second of this month.

It is worth noting that His Majesty calls Parliament to convene for an ordinary session on the first day of October each year; if that day is an official holiday, the session begins on the first following day that is not an official holiday.

His Majesty may, by Royal Decree published in the Official Gazette, postpone the convening of Parliament to a date specified in the decree, provided that the postponement does not exceed two months. The ordinary session of Parliament begins on the date it is called to convene and lasts six months, unless the King dissolves the House of Representatives before the end of that period.

The King may extend the ordinary session for an additional period not exceeding three months to complete any pending work. Upon the conclusion of the initial six months or any extension thereof, the King shall close the said session.