No-confidence motion against President can be tabled: Parliament Council General

Parliament Council General Fathimath Filza has advised that the no-confidence motion filed against President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, can be tabled on the Parliament agenda.

The motion was filed with the signatures of 26 MPs of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 10 October.

Filza told Sun Online today that the no-confidence motion is in line with article 100 of the Constitution.

Article 100 (a) of the Constitution stipulates that the Parliament may pass a resolution to remove the President or Vice President from office, in the event that the President or Vice President directly violates a tenet of Islam, the Constitution or law; is involved in serious misconduct unsuited to the office of the President or Vice President; or is unable to perform the responsibilities of office of President or Vice President.

Article 100(b) stipulates that a resolution as provided for in article (a) should be submitted to the Parliament under the hand of at least a third of the members, specifying the reasons.

The no-confidence motion against President Waheed submitted to Parliament by MDP states that the President directly ordered members of Maldives Police Service to carry out inhumane activities against Members of Parliament and citizens of the Maldives.

It states that while no investigation has been carried out into these activities, the President also obstructs the people’s right to freedom of speech.

According to the motion, the President should also be held responsible for the current financial troubles faced by the country and the recent upsurge in murders in the Maldivian society.

A no-confidence motion against the President requires two-third votes in its favour, for it to be passed by the Parliament.

MDP has also filed a no-confidence motion against Home Minister Dr Jameel, for which the voting has been tabled for 13 November.