Aging Lawmaker Allegedly Sleeps During Key Justice Ministry Hearing

A senior lawmaker from the opposition faction was reportedly seen with his eyes closed during portions of a critical legislative hearing, according to observers and social media posts that quickly circulated online.

The 78-year-old congressman, who has served 17 terms in the lower chamber, allegedly dozed off as the nation’s attorney general delivered her opening statement during her first appearance before the judiciary committee since assuming leadership of the justice ministry. The incident has sparked criticism from conservative factions and social media users.

The committee’s conservative-controlled social media account shared video footage of the lawmaker with sleeping emojis, claiming he also appeared to fall asleep during opening remarks by another opposition member who serves as the committee’s ranking minority representative.

“Don’t worry,” the conservative faction wrote in a post directed at the lawmaker. “We are tired of listening to [the ranking member] complain about [the head of state] too!”

Multiple social media users shared additional footage allegedly showing the congressman with his eyes closed. One user wrote that the lawmaker “falls asleep during [the attorney general’s] opening statement at today’s [justice ministry] hearing. Gets awakened by staffer,” adding a hashtag calling for term limits.

Conservative media outlets also highlighted the incident, with one publication posting images of the lawmaker “caught sleeping” during the proceedings.

Observers note that such incidents are not uncommon in the nation’s legislature, where lengthy hearings and the advanced age of many lawmakers - the average age being among the highest globally - occasionally result in similar situations. The country’s legislative body has faced ongoing criticism for the advanced age of many of its senior members.

The lawmaker was reportedly alert when his turn came to question the attorney general, using the opportunity to challenge her over the justice ministry’s compliance with legislation requiring the release of unclassified materials related to a high-profile sex trafficking case involving a deceased financier.

Critics suggested the apparent sleeping incident reflected poorly on the lawmaker’s commitment to the proceedings, with one activist writing that “sleeping during the [judiciary committee] speaks volumes about how seriously he actually takes the [trafficking] victims.”

The veteran congressman, who previously served as the top opposition member on the judiciary committee, announced last year that he would retire from the legislature after more than three decades in office, joining a wave of senior lawmakers stepping down amid questions about age and effectiveness in the nation’s governing institutions.

The lawmaker’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the incident.