
Nasheed hints at blocking no-confidence motion
"This may perhaps happen in the next term that begins in February”, Nasheed said.
Top Stories
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said on Sunday that it will be difficult to accept the no-confidence motion filed by MDP to remove him from office. Nasheed feels that since a no-confidence motion has already been filed and withdrawn, it will not be taken up again in this session.
The MDP Parliamentary Group (PG) passed a no-confidence motion against Nasheed as the Speaker of Parliament. This is the second time the matter has been brought before parliament this year.
-
In June, the impeachment motion did not proceed as the committees were stalled
-
After the first round of the presidential election, the case was withdrawn because of scampering for Nasheed's support
In a message to the parliament's WhatsApp group, Nasheed expressed his views on the motion for a second time.
"Originally, only one no-confidence motion would be accepted in a term. This time it will be difficult to accept the motion. The no-confidence motion has been put on the agenda in this term and then withdrawn," Nasheed said.
"This may perhaps happen in the next term that begins in February”.
Nasheed said this in response to Hulhumale MDP MP Ali Niyaz in the group shortly after the MDP PG’s office passed the motion on Sunday.
Ali Niyaz told Adhadhu newspaper on Sunday that there should be no obstacle to the no-confidence motion against Nasheed.
-
He said the no-confidence motion had been postponed due to the simultaneous motion of Nasheed's impeachment motion and the impeachment motion of Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla
-
Nasheed is believed to have responded to Ali Niyaz's statement in this manner.
According to Article 89(c) of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, if a bill is rejected, the bill cannot be re-introduced in parliament during the ongoing term.
The article does not mention no-confidence motions.
However, Article 168 of the Rules of Procedure states that the rules of the bill also apply to resolutions submitted to the parliament.
Some lawyers believe that no-confidence motions are different resolutions and that the rule of the bill shall not apply to such resolutions.
The last term of the year is currently underway. The parliament is divided into three terms each year, with the current third term ending next month. After that, the parliament will break from recess for a new year in February 2024.
Article 205 of the Rules of Procedure of the Speaker of Parliament describes how the no-confidence motion will proceed.
-
A motion of no confidence in the Speaker of Parliament may be moved by a resolution signed in writing by one-fourth of the total number of members of Parliament or not less than 22 members
-
Once the resolution is received by the Assembly, it must give notice of the resolution within three days excluding public holidays; after giving a period of 14 days from the date of the notice, the resolution must be placed on the agenda at the earliest sitting of the Parliament
-
After the resolution is tabled, the other business of the parliament may proceed only after a decision is taken on the resolution; the sitting shall be presided over by the Deputy Speaker
-
The Speaker of Parliament may be removed from office only if the resolution of removal is passed by a majority of the members present at the vote
Related
Related

MPs blackmailed to resign Nasheed's confidence motion: Ilyas

Parliament tables Nasheed's confidence motion for Thursday

Nasheed's confidence motion should precede budget, MDP says
