Committee passes that president has violated the constitution

The Parliament Committee on Government Oversight has passed that President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has violated the constitution.

The Committee made this decision after the President’s Office failed on multiple occasions to provide the statements gathered by the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI), formed to investigate the transfer of power, to the committee. The committee passed at today’s meeting, with five votes in favour, that the president has violated article 99 of the constitution.

The motion was voted against by three committee members. They are Thimarafushi MP Ahmed Shareef, Vili-Maafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik and Kurendhoo MP Ahmed Moosa.

Article 99 (a) of the constitution states that “the People’s Majlis or any of its committees has the power to summon any person to appear before it to give evidence under oath, or to produce documents; and that any person who is questioned by the People’s Majlis as provided for in this Article shall answer to the best of his knowledge and ability.”

Committee Chairperson Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed said that the decision was made following legal advice from the Parliament Office, and that it will be sent to the parliament floor for a decision.

Meanwhile, Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) attempt to obtain a parliament order to request for statements collected by CNI was rejected with only five votes in favour. The motion requires six votes for it to be passed.