Nasheed's no-confidence motion filed with 48 signatures
MDP PG accuses Nasheed of repeated irregular conduct of meetings as Speaker.
By
Ahmed Sadhoof Moosa
MDP on Sunday filed a no-confidence motion against Speaker of the Parliament Mohmmed Nasheed with the signatures of 48 MPs.
The MDP Parliamentary Group (PG) decided to move a no-confidence motion against Nasheed as the Speaker of Parliament.
A senior MDP MP confirmed to Atoll Times that the motion has been submitted to parliament Sunday evening. A copy of the motion was also received.
The motion, signed by 48 of 56 MDP MPs, highlights concerns that Nasheed is running the parliament unlawfully. He was also accused of putting his own interests first in setting the agenda.
According to the motion, Nasheed is being removed from office for:
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Prioritising self-interest in setting the agenda of the Parliament and proposing a decision, relying on a particular party and setting the agenda unlawfully
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Repeated irregular conduct of meetings
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Encouraging MPs who are trying to disrupt the parliamentary sessions
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After several days of adjournment, Nasheed holds sessions to schedule issues in the interest of The Democrats to which Nasheed belongs
This is the second time this year that the MDP has filed a motion to remove Nasheed from office.
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After the first round of the presidential election last month, the impeachment motion filed in June was withdrawn
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The MDP's parliamentary group decided to withdraw the motion after the MDP received second place in the first round and Nasheed's Democrats came third with 15,000 votes
MDP members again began calling for Nasheed's removal at the National Council meeting held after MDP's defeat in the second round of elections. Soon after, some members started discussions to bring the issue back to parliament.
With the media reporting the start of the work on Saturday, The Democrats have accused the government of theft and called for an investigation.
A motion of no confidence in the Speaker of Parliament can be moved with the signatures of not less than one-fourth of the total number of members of Parliament or 22 members. He may be removed from office only if a resolution of removal is passed by a majority of the members present and voting.
Nasheed on Sunday said it would be difficult to accept the no-confidence motion filed by the MDP to remove him from office. Nasheed believes that the no-confidence motion cannot be moved again in this term as it had been submitted and withdrawn, invalidating the motion.
