PNC uses Parliament supermajority to foil no-confidence motion against economic minister

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) used its supermajority in the Parliament on Wednesday to foil a no-confidence motion submitted against Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The no-confidence motion, endorsed by all 13 MDP lawmakers who sit in the Parliament, was submitted on August 1, and accused Saeed of dereliction of duty.

The vote on the motion was held on Wednesday afternoon – three months after its submission.

The Parliament took the floor vote on the motion on Wednesday afternoon – three months after it was submitted to the assembly.

It failed by a majority vote of 54-10.

The MDP had accused Saeed of blatant violation of the Constitution in the discharge of his duties, negligence in answering to the Parliament, and engaging in acts prohibited of cabinet ministers.

The party also accused him of failure to implement any effective policies to reform the economy, which they said resulted in the US dollar crunch in the country, and caused the rate to soar in the black market.

The MDP alleged that instead of working to resolve the issue, Saeed acted dismissive and called the USD crunch something “natural”, undermining the seriousness of the matter.

Saeed made full use of the one-hour he was granted earlier on Wednesday to respond to these accusations.

He said that PNC administration supplied 80 percent or USD 1.9 billion more US dollars to the banks in its first three years than the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration did in its last three.

He also accused the MDP of pushing the country towards bankruptcy, stating that it because the incumbent administration is working to fix the situation that its predecessor created that it was forced to introduce a 40 percent mandatory USD exchange requirement for resorts – the country’s biggest dollar revenue makers.

Saeed said that he therefore categorically rejects MDP’s allegations that he failed to implement any effective policies to reform the economy.

While the MDP had enough votes to submit a no-confidence motion, it does not have enough to actually have it passed at the Parliament, in which the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority with 75 out of 93 seats.

The motion against Saeed marked the third one the MDP has filed against a member of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet. They filed one against Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan and Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, mere months apart last year.

All three motions failed.