Malawi: Civil society attacks decision to close parliament

President Bingu wa Mutharika has earned the ire of civil society for not keeping his end of the bargain to discuss floor-crossing, a tactic that has strengthened his political arm, now that parliament has approved the national budget. Mutharika's decision to prorogue parliament soon after the budget was passed was seen as an attempt to stem any move by the opposition, who hold the majority of seats in the193-seat house, to force the speaker to table the issue of floor-crossing.