The Parliament has placed the no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on the agenda for November 12 after the Supreme Court ruled that the motion can be voted on without the deputy speaker presiding over the sitting.
The Supreme Court issued the ruling after concluding the Constitutional case filed by main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after the no-confidence motion was stalled following Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla's medical leave. The Secretariat of the Parliament stated that only the deputy speaker can preside over the no-confidence motion against the speaker, however, MDP stated that the longest serving member can take over the responsibility in the absence of the deputy speaker.
The Supreme Court ruled that the parliamentary regulations clearly state that five members can be appointed to preside over sittings in the absence of the speaker and deputy speaker. The court stated that the rule is in place to prevent any halt in the parliamentary work and that the Parliament's decision not to proceed with the no-confidence motion is a violation of the Constitution.
Additionally, the Supreme Court stated that the Parliament is required to proceed with matters related to its Constitutional responsibilities even if the no-confidence motion has not been concluded. They include passing the state budget, holding the President-elect's swearing-in ceremony, and approving the appointment of Cabinet ministers.
After the ruling, the Parliament scheduled the no-confidence motion for November 12 and appointed five members to preside over the sitting. They are Hassan Afeef, Ibrahim Shareef, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, Mohamed Aslam, and Qasim Ibrahim.
MDP submitted the no-confidence motion with 49 signatures. The main ruling party consists of 56 parliamentarians.
In a statement following the ruling, MDP said the Supreme Court had upheld the Constitution and the rule of law. The party said the ruling has solved the deadlock in the Parliament, expressing hope that the Secretariat will follow the regulations in the future.