Minority Leader of the Parliament of the Maldives Ahmed Saleem has stated that he will not respond to the Presidential Address given by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
At a press conference held by the opposition coalition, Minority Leader Saleem noted that he has responded to all previous Presidential Address during the current term but that he will not respond to this year’s address as the opposition coalition does not acknowledge Solih as the President. The minority leader is obligated to respond to the Presidential Address, which is given before the start of the first session of Parliament each year by the president on the state of the nation and the administration’s plans.
Additionally, many members of the opposition coalition were ejected from the Parliament after they attempted to interrupt the Presidential Address by causing a commotion. As such, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed called on five members of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) to leave the Parliament floor. Members of the opposition coalition also staged a protest near the Parliament building and some protesters were taken into police custody.