Not officially informed of dissolution of coalition, says Gasim

Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim has said that he has not been officially informed of the dissolution of the coalition agreement between Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and JP, but only heard reports in this regard through media.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament building following the sitting held today to elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Gasim added that he however no longer believes that the coalition exists.

“I haven’t received any information in writing to indicate that the coalition has been dissolved. I am only hearing these things through media, through reporters. Some electronic media stations also report lies,” he said.

Gasim said that it would not be fair to dissolve the coalition following his decision to stand for election as Speaker of Parliament, and that JP’s National Committee first agreed that it does not matter if the coalition is dissolved, before deciding to nominate him for the Speaker post.

He further said that despite being defeated, he was happy to have received 39 votes in his favour in today’s vote to elect a Speaker for the new Parliament.

Earlier, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb announced that the coalition agreement between PPM and JP had been dissolved.

Gasim has recently accused the government of refusing to grant government posts requested by JP. President Abdulla Yameen responded by saying that candidates nominated by JP do not qualify for the respective posts.

PPM’s Fuvahmulah-South MP Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed was elected Speaker of Parliament this morning with 43 votes. His opponent Gasim received 39 votes from the 85-member parliament.