Nasheed to Abdul Raheem: You will need to call a vote when enough MPs endorse President’s impeachment

Former President Mohamed Nasheed hit back at Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla on Monday, stating that he will have no choice but to call a vote to impeach President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu if enough parliamentarians endorse such a motion.

Nasheed has repeatedly stated that President Muizzu will be forced out of office before the end of the year. Speaking at a campaign rally in Male’ on Thursday, Nasheed claimed that the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s parliamentary group filed the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim because he and 23 other parliamentarians from the party planned to cross party lines and submit an impeachment motion against President Muizzu.

But at a campaign rally in Addu on Saturday night, Abdul Raheem said that that the PNC, which holds a supermajority at the Parliament, will not allow for such a vote.

“What I want to say tonight is, stop showing people a false dream. You cannot take an impeachment vote against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at the Parliament. We will not allow you that chance,” he said.

In a post on X on Sunday morning, Nasheed retweeted a news article regarding Abdul Raheem’s remarks and hit back at PNC chairperson.

“What sort of talk is this?” asked Nasheed.

“You will need to call a vote when 1/3 of the Majlis submits it. This is the basic tenet of the Constitution.”

Konbaavathehge vaahka eh thoa. Majlis ge 1/3 menbarun husha helhumun vote ah jeheynee ahan. Ey ee Raajeyge Qaanoon Asaasee ge enme bodu hama. https://t.co/Rzdk3dcHN1

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) May 24, 2026

In a separate post on X on Sunday, Nasheed said that Alifushi MP Abdul Latheef Abdul Rahman would not sacrifice his personal friendship with Nazim to defend the “unpopular” President Muizzu.

He did not elaborate.

Alifushi Dhaairaa Majlis membaru Abdul Latheef Abdul Rahman aai Majlis Naib Raees Ahmed Nazim aa dhemedhu oiy rahumaiytheri kamuge gulhumakee maqboolukan gehlifavaa Raees Dr. Muizzu dhifaau kurumah nagaalaane rahumaiytheri kameh noon.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) May 24, 2026

The no-confidence motion submitted against Nazim on May 14 on allegations of repeatedly abusing his office to create strife and disharmony was endorsed by 73 parliamentarians from the PNC, including Abdul Latheef.

According to the Constitution, the submission of an impeachment motion against the President will require the endorsement of one-third of the Parliament. Getting it done will therefore require a large number of PNC parliamentarians to defect.

Nasheed claims that 24 parliamentarians from the PNC, including Nazim, are ready to file an impeachment motion against President Muizzu. However, this claim is denied by the ruling party.

The Constitution stipulates that a sitting President may be impeached with the vote of one-third of the Parliament. However, no President has been impeached by the Parliament in Maldives’ history.