House of Representatives closes fall session

The House of Representatives closed on Friday its fall session of the 2000-2001 legislature.

Drawing the balance sheet of the session, a statement of the House says 14 draft laws and one law proposal were adopted while six law proposals are still being studied by the house specialized commissions. The House also looked into and adopted the 2001 finance bill.

Other activities include the control of the government actions through the sessions of oral and written questions to cabinet members, meetings of the sectorial commissions and the creation of a fact-finding commission over the CIH bank financial irregularities.

The statement stresses the fact-finding commission was the most important parliamentary action in controlling the government, in line with article 42 of the constitution and provisions of its internal statute. Actually, it held 52 meetings that lasted over 169 hours in addition to two weeks needed to draft the report.

During the session, the House featured 438 oral questions -- of which 269 were answered by the government members--, 54 urgent questions related to various issues.

At the international level, the House carried on contacts with parliaments and officials from different countries, received foreign parliamentarians and officials and took part in regional and international parliamentary encounters.

The statement also said an Internet web site was developed as part of the House efforts to foster communication with citizens and the media.