Yameen pledges support for MP Azaan amid seat loss threat

Former President Abdulla Yameen said on Thursday that he will work to regain the parliamentary seat of Hithadhoo Central Member Ahmed Azaan if he loses it due to his opposition to the government’s constitutional amendments.

Yameen made these remarks at a rally held by the People’s National Front (PNF), criticising the government’s efforts to remove Azaan from his seat.

Azaan did not vote for the government’s bill to amend the Courts Act, which aims to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices and remove certain judges. He opposed the bill, calling it unconstitutional. Following this:

Yameen expressed support for Azaan, saying that his decision demonstrated his commitment to the law and the people. He added that if Azaan loses his seat, he would receive full backing for his stance.

"Azaan will remember that I worked for him in the past parliamentary elections. I will work even harder this time," Yameen said.

However, Yameen also noted that Azaan contributed to the current situation by supporting a constitutional amendment that results in MPs losing their seats if they switch parties. He criticised Azaan for previously voting to limit MPs’ rights and granting additional powers to the government.

"If Azaan and like-minded individuals had opposed the seat loss amendment earlier, they would not be facing these consequences today. When we welcome him now, he should acknowledge this failure," Yameen said.

Addressing the suspension of three Supreme Court judges, Yameen stated that he did not believe the allegations against them. He claimed that this was not the first time the government had approached the Supreme Court to rectify parliamentary actions.

"What are you afraid of? This is not about upholding the constitution. They speak about maintaining the separation of powers but fail to understand the difference between oversight and interference," Yameen said.

He further stated that the government’s actions amounted to obstruction of the judiciary, which is a constitutional violation.