MDP: Going to court to resolve parliament deadlock the last resort

Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Parliamentary Group leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam, on Monday, stated that going to Supreme Court to resolve the deadlock presently faced in the parliament will be their last resort.

Many integral works were pending when the parliament concluded its second session for the year. Subsequently, MDP sought to hold an extraordinary sitting out of session. Although the extraordinary sitting was slated for Monday morning, the sitting concluded less than five minutes after it began.  

After opening the sitting, Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef who was presiding over the sitting, noted the resignation of Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed (Checkmark Rasheed) from MDP.

Afeef, noting their resignation requires amendments to the presently proposed composition of the committees, said the extraordinary sitting cannot proceed any further.

He said the sitting can continue once the report, reflecting these changes, is circulated for the lawmakers and their amendments to the report are received. With this, he concluded the sitting drawing concerns from MDP lawmakers.

In a press conference held after the sitting on Monday by MDP’s Parliamentary Group, Aslam, responding to a question by Sun, said they will research all possible avenues to solve the deadlock ahead of seeking the Supreme Court’s help.

He stressed that MDP still believes the deadlock can be resolved within the confinements of the parliament’s regulations.

“Going to Supreme Court is our last resort. We will explore all avenues before going to court. The parliament’s regulations lean towards the law as well. We believe there will be a solution for this within the parliament. But if we fail to resolve it within the parliament, we will go to court,” he said.

Speaking at the press conference, Aslam also accused Parliament Speaker Nasheed of stalling the parliament’s works in order to defend his post. Noting notice of the extraordinary sitting was served merely hours before, Aslam described the decision to hold the extraordinary sitting out of nowhere while some lawmakers were on leave as Nasheed’s intent to act in a manner that stalls the parliament’s works.

“Still urging him to enforce the regulations of the parliament. If he feels like he cannot do so, he should resign. What we take note of now, is stalling the work in order to defend his post. But we assumed there might have been reasons he recused from chairing the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker such as familial relations or something else. But we have put forth solutions to move forward,” he said.

Although Monday’s sitting was concluded citing the reconstitution of the parliament’s standing committees cannot be proceeded with due to the change in the parliament’s composition – Aslam said such a course of action was not recognized by the parliament’s regulation while the chair is not mandated to follow such a rule.