Parliament deadlock continues as term end nears
An official from the parliament secretariat said there was no further answer to be given.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Parliament deadlock continued as Tuesday's sitting did not take place, with legislative arm of the state remaining in limbo despite the second parliamentary term of the year coming to an end by the end of the week.
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
When asked about the cancellation of Tuesday’s sitting, an official from the parliament secretariat said there was no further answer to be given.
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.
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.
Some key bills pending at the parliament include:
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Amendments to the Evidence Act, which journalists had raised concerns about
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Amendment to prevent double taxation on plastic bags
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Appointment of a member to the Elections Commission
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Amendment to the Elections Act
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Industrial Relations Bill
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:
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The speaker shall preside over the sitting where the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker of parliament is on the agenda
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The deputy speaker shall preside over the sitting where the no-confidence motion is discussed against the speaker
