President responsible for parliament deadlock, says Gasim

Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim on Saturday criticised the government, accusing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of orchestrating the recent parliament deadlock.

Parliament is in deadlock following non-consensus among political parties on reconstituting standing committees following the major change in the composition of political parties in the parliament. The ruling MDP accuses the speaker Mohammed Nasheed of delaying the work.

No-confidence motions against Nasheed and deputy speaker Eva Abdulla has also been delayed due to the inability to reconstitute the committees. 

During a JP council meeting held at Paradise Island Resort on Saturday, Gasim criticised President Solih and his government.

The JP candidate for the upcoming presidential election said that the party to which President Solih belongs, the MDP, deadlocked the parliament. He also questioned whether the party did not know well that the parliament would go to that situation when no-confidence motions were simultaneously filed against the speaker and the deputy speaker.

The president should take responsibility for stopping the parliament, Gasim, who still remains in the ruling coalition, said.

Calling on the government to abide by the constitution, Gasim criticised President Solih. He said the parliament was brought to this situation to keep the president “in power”. The president is making “wrong upon wrong” and it would be better not to talk about a second term for him, he said.

"He has to take bitter medicine. He can't do whatever he wants just to stay in power. It won't be good," he said.

"Now you are making mistake upon mistake. Now you don't have anything. Everything is finished. So there is no point in you running for power," Gasim spoke, directly addressing president Solih.