MDP members move to oust Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail

Members of the governing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has begun collecting signatures for a vote of no confidence against Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail. 

Parliamentarians of MDP has confirmed the move to Sun. The efforts are to spark a vote of no confidence against the Minister within the parliament.

An MDP MP who wished to remain anonymous said to Sun that the move has been in the works for a few days now.

“The wait was due to the lack of signatures. However, I have received information that some signatures have now been received. I am not sure whether the necessary number of signatures has been received yet.” Said the MDP member.

The member alleged that this was something conducted by party higher-ups. 

Another member said that the number of signatures required to submit the matter to the parliament had in fact, been received now. 

The signature of 14 MPs are required to start a motion of no confidence against a cabinet member and should be voted for by at least 43 MPs, which is the majority of the parliament. 

The reason regarding the vote of no confidence against Minister Fayyaz is uncertain. Fayyaz is one of the most influential ministers of the current government. 

MDP has a super majority inside the parliament with 65 members our of the 87 seats. Divisions and cracks within the party has been observed as of recently.