Parliament session halted following issue of secret voting for no-confidence

Speaker of the Parliament has terminated today’s session after stating that the vote of no confidence against Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim and Home Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed will be conducted only after the parliamentary committee makes a decision on the Supreme Court’s ruling that the parliament cannot hold secret voting for no-confidence motions against the president and members of the cabinet.

The Chair announced an end to today’s session after the debate on the vote of no confidence against Home Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel was concluded, just 20 minutes prior to the vote. The no-confidence votes against the two ministers were scheduled for 13:30 this afternoon.

The debate for the motion against Home Minister Jameel progressed without disruption this morning, but as the debate for the motion against Defence Minister Nazim began after recess, the MPs started raising points of order stating that the vote is matter of national security and that it should be conducted in secret.

The session was first adjourned after one of the MPs raised a point of order regarding the colors worn on the suite of Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim as he stepped onto the parliament floor to answer for the motion against him. The speaker then brought the session to a halt to consult with the parliamentary group leaders.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs started calling for points of order soon after the session was resumed in the afternoon. MDP’s parliamentary group leader had also stated that they will not allow the session to continue unless it was agreed that today’s votes be conducted in secret.

Terminating today’s session, the Speaker announced that the session will continue tomorrow. A motion has been scheduled for tomorrow against Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim to be removed from the Judicial Service Commission. MP Gasim currently sits in the JSC as the parliament’s representative.