Nasheed, MDP clash over premature end to parliament term

Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and majority leader Mohamed Aslam clashed on Monday as the speaker announced an end to the second parliamentary term of the year due to the ongoing deadlock and his decision to recuse himself from chairing sittings pending a vote on his no-confidence motion, with the ruling MDP's Aslam rejecting Nasheed's demand to withdraw one of the two no-confidence motions filed against the speaker and deputy speaker.

Nasheed and deputy dpeaker Eva Abdulla have both refused to chair sittings as no-confidence motions against them were filed simultaneously. Nasheed said on Monday that the ongoing second term can no longer go on.

When asked about Nasheed's remarks at a press conference at the parliament secretariat on Monday, Aslam said there was no obstacle to Nasheed presiding over sittings until the expiry of the 14-day notice given to him on the no-confidence motion.

"Therefore, sessions should be held. Some people want to be above the law and order. You cannot do that. Sittings should be held," said Aslam, who worked closely with Nasheed in the past.

"The Sittings should be held. They should be help up until recess. There is no obstacle to that”.

Nasheed's solution to end the deadlock in parliament is for MDP to withdraw the no-confidence motion against one of them. That is, he believes, two cases cannot be pursued at the same time.

However, the MDP has no intention of withdrawing any motion, Aslam said.

"It's like talking to children. If you give them a candy, they do this or that. If you give them chocolate, they do this. It cannot go on like this," he said.

Aslam repeatedly said that there was no obstacle to the proceedings even if two motions were moved simultaneously.

"This is not his own home. I'm not trying to evict him from [Nasheed's own house, G.] Canaryge. I'm speaking with hatred and anger," he said.

Nasheed recused himself from chairing sittings until a decision is taken on the no-confidence motion against him. However, according to the rules of procedure, there is no obstacle to him remaining in the presidency until the 14-day notice of no confidence motion expires.

According to the rules of the procedure: