VP impeached, removed from office through no-confidence vote

I even opposed the idea of Dr Jameel being President Yameen’s running mate, because I knew he would not be loyal and would attempt to become President. I told President Yameen that Dr Jameel was campaigning for 2018. He had created groups to work towards defaming President Yameen. I told President Yameen not to appoint Jameel’s allies as ministers, because they would not be loyal to President Yameen either. I am happy today, that President Yameen has no confidence in Dr Jameel. I think the whole parliament is unanimous on this issue because Dr Jameel is not sincere. So today we have to appoint someone in whom he has confidence, as Vice President.

Dr Jameel had the chance to resign before the no-confidence motion was submitted to parliament. He didn’t. A Vice President who has been disloyal to the President should not be allowed remain in the post. People who are appointed Vice President should not think they can become President. We will not allow that. There is no one President Yameen trusts more than Ahmed Adeeb. This opportunity [Vice President post] should be given to Adeeb.

I don’t think the post of Vice President should exist. There are many people who don’t agree with the parliament having the power to remove the President and the Vice President, elected by the people. The system needs reform.

I have no confidence in the Vice President, and urge everyone to vote in favour of the motion. We saw the Vice President’s negligence over the health sector, as the Head of Social Council. Instead of answering to us, he challenged us.

We have to pass the no-confidence motion against the Vice President, because we have no confidence in him. We are talking about removing a Vice President through a ten-line motion. I think a one-line motion is enough to remove a Vice President in whom we have no confidence.

It is sad that Dr Jameel cannot use a lawyer to present his defence to the parliament. This day will go down in history, not because a Vice President is being impeached, but because the parliament has denied him his right to use a lawyer to present his defence, prescribed in Article 100 (d) of the Constitution.

Jameel was disloyal to former President Gayoom while serving as a member of his cabinet. Jameel was disloyal to former President Dr Waheed while serving as a member of his cabinet. He has also been disloyal to President Yameen. Hence, I have no confidence in him.

The President has lost confidence in the Vice President. We have also lost confidence in Dr Jameel. I request him to resign before the no-confidence motion is passed.

Vice President Dr Jameel went out to assault us [MDP members] on the day of the coup. If the President’s representatives in this parliament say they have lost confidence in Dr Jameel, then everyone has lost confidence in him.

He has not properly carried out his duties. He has focused on visiting resorts and uninhabited islands, and having fun. We want someone who is loyal to the President. If the next Vice President is not loyal to the President, he must be impeached as well.

There are many reasons behind a no-confidence motion against Vice President Dr Jameel. He failed to take any action against the police and MNDF officers who inflicted physical harm on members of the public on 7 and 8 February 2012. He has called MDP members secularists. We are not happy about voting in favour of the no-confidence motion against Jameel. But we have to pass the motion because the Vice President, at the moment, is not someone who works according to the advice of the President.