The Parliamentary Group (PG) of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to submit a no-confidence motion against Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.
At a press conference, Majority Leader of the Parliament Mohamed Aslam said the majority of members present at the PG meeting voted in favour of submitting the no-confidence motion. As such, 36 of the 44 members voted in favour and the MDP PG intends to gain more signatures to submit the motion. The decision was reached due to concerns regarding Speaker Nasheed's alleged violation of the Constitution and parliamentary regulations.
Additionally, PG Leader of MDP Aslam expressed concerns regarding Speaker Nasheed's conduct during the sittings, highlighting instances where rules and regulations were violated. Aslam emphasised that the party had provided Speaker Nasheed with multiple opportunities to rectify his behavior before reaching the decision to submit a no-confidence motion. He further noted that the delay in taking this step was due to the speaker's respected position within the party.
Furthermore, Aslam noted that while Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, who would be required to preside over proceedings of the no-confidence motion, is also facing a no-confidence motion herself. He acknowledged that they would have to proceed with the motions as per the regulations in place, despite the unique circumstance. He expressed confidence that MDP will be successful in removing the speaker and resuming the work of the parliament after forming the committees.
The removal of the speaker or deputy speaker requires a majority vote from parliamentarians. Specifically, if all 87 members are present, a minimum of 44 members must vote in favor for the no-confidence motion to pass.