Opp calls on pres to end parliament deadlock unconditionally
Saleem told reporters at the parliament secretariat that they have been doing everything possible to make the parliament function.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Opposition PPM-PNC MPs on Tuesday called on President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih to unconditionally end the parliament deadlock, accusing the government of orchestrating the deadlock.
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla have both refused to preside over sitting pending decisions on no-confidence motions against them. Nasheed said on Monday that the current second term of the parliament can no longer go on.
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Villufushi MP Hassan Afeef presided over three sittings in a row when the speaker and deputy speaker recused themselves from chairing sittings
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According to the rules of the parliament, a member appointed to do so can preside over a maximum of three sittings in a row
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Tuesday's sitting did not take place; MDP's parliamentary group says that even if the no-confidence motion against the speaker and deputy speaker have been filed simultaneously, sittings should be held
Minority leader, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem told reporters at the parliament secretariat that they have been doing everything possible to make the parliament function. However, the ruling MDP members want to stop the parliament, he said.
"There is no way for the parliament to run. President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih has brought the parliament to this point," Saleem told a news conference after talks with Nasheed.
Referring to President Solih's earlier statement that he had control of the parliament, Saleem said that the president's influence and power was used to drive the parliament to a deadlock. He said the president, who had been a member of parliament for 25 years, knows very well how this will happen.
"It was a crime committed by the government knowingly," Saleem said.
Besides Saleem, other members who spoke at the press conference also made the accusation against the government. They demand the government to resolve the issue.
"We call on the government to resolve this issue and make the parliament run smoothly. It is the duty of the government to facilitate this unconditionally," PNC president, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef said.
Speaking at a press conference, Guraidhoo MP Ghassan Maumoon said President Solih is not the only head of the government, but he is the head of the entire state and it is President Solih's responsibility to find a solution.
“I also call on the President to fulfil his responsibilities as the head of state and work to restore the parliament, even if he suspends other activities and stops campaign activities,” he said.
