MDP requests to table Nasheed’s no-confidence motion despite Eva’s absence

Ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), on Monday night, has requested the Parliament Secretariate to table the no-confidence motion they have submitted against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed for Tuesday’s sitting, despite Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla having called in sick for Tuesday.

As per the parliament’s regulations, no other parliamentary works can proceed if the no-confidence motion has been filed against the speaker, without concluding its proceedings. However, the matter of the supplementary budget submitted by the Finance Ministry has been tabled for Tuesday’s sitting, with Nasheed’s motion being delayed to Wednesday’s sitting.

MDP’s Parliamentary Group, upset with the decision, sent a letter to Parliament’s Secretary General Fathimath Niusha on Monday night, requesting to table Nasheed’s no-confidence motion for Tuesday’ sitting; as confirmed to Sun by MDP’s Parliamentary Group Leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam.

Nasheed’s no-confidence motion had been tabled on the agenda for the 15^th sitting of the third session of the parliament, which had failed to pan out both today and yesterday, as a result of Deputy Speaker Eva, Nasheed’s cousin and fellow Democrats member, calling in sick.

As per the parliament’s regulation, a no-confidence motion against the speaker of the parliament must be presided by the deputy speaker. The regulation does not provide instructions for circumstances where the deputy speaker is unavailable.

Parliament Secretariate’s Communications Director Hassan Ziyau told Sun that they are sure Nasheed’s no-confidence motion cannot take place tomorrow, as Eva, his cousin, and fellow Democrats’ member, has also called in sick for Tuesday.

He cited this as the reason the no-confidence motion has not been tabled for Tuesday’s sitting, as it cannot proceed without Eva.

Aslam has said that the party will not allow for the parliamentary work on the budget slated for Tuesday’s sitting to proceed without moving forward with a no-confidence motion submitted against Nasheed, as the motion, as per regulations, has priority over any other work.

MDP, which has 56 seats in the parliament, has decided against cooperating with any other parliamentary work than the no-confidence motion. The party has previously said they will not approve the president-elect’s cabinet if the no-confidence motion remains stalled.