Maseeh allowed 30 minutes to make his case

People’s Majlis General Purpose Committee has voted to allow Majlis Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed 30 minutes to make his case in the no-confidence issue raised against him.

General Purpose Committee made the decision with the unanimous vote of all members present during the meeting.

Debate on the issue will be held for 2 hours – from which 30 minutes will be allowed for Maseeh to make his case; 10 minutes at the start of the debate, 10 minutes in the middle, and 10 minutes at the end of the debate.

Majlis rules state that debate over no-confidence on Majlis Speaker should not go on for more than three hours. And that it was the responsibility of General Purpose Committee to decide the number of members who will speak during the debate on no-confidence issue, as well as the length of time they will be allowed.

Notice for the no-confidence issue was sent to Maseeh and other Majlis members on Sunday.

The Majlis rulebook states that the issue has to be heard during the first Majlis meeting held on a workday, 10 days after the notice is sent.

The no-confidence issue was pushed into Majlis through a petition bearing signatures of 19 Majlis members.

43 votes will be needed to pass the no-confidence vote.