MDP threatens parliament deadlock until Nasheed's ouster
"We do not believe that such a session [the swearing-in ceremony] can be conducted after the 29th [Tuesday] without the vote”.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The MDP Parliamentary Group has said that it will not allow any further work in Parliament until the no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Parliament is completed and he is impeached.
The Parliamentary Group has decided not to accept the swearing-in of the President-elect even, under the circumstances.
The MDP parliamentary group, which has a clear majority in the Parliament that moved the motion, decided on Wednesday to issue a three-line whip on the issue as well.
Giving more information about the decision at the parliament premises this evening, PG leader Aslam said that it was decided in the PG meeting not to cooperate with any work done inside the parliament unless the Speaker removal business was concluded.
President-elect Mohamed Muizzu will be sworn in on November 17 in a parliamentary session. After his swearing-in, his cabinet will have to be formed and sent to parliament for approval. MDP’s PG is not willing to cooperate with any of it if the parliament does not allow this vote to be taken this time.
"We have given a notice to hold the meeting and the meeting has to be convened. On the day of the session, parliament cannot do anything until after raising the issue in that session. The parliamentary group has now decided not to do any parliamentary business on behalf of our party," Aslam said, reiterating that nothing more can be done until a decision is taken on the matter as per parliamentary rules.
Article 205 of the rules of procedure describes the procedure for impeachment of the speaker:
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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
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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
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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
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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
Speaking further at a press conference, North Hithadhoo MP Aslam urged Nasheed to "do nothing by sitting in the chair" whilst preventing the vote.
"Then there are some things ahead. These include, for example, the swearing-in ceremony of the President. That should be done in Parliament," he said. Aslam, the running mate of MDP presidential candidate President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, who was defeated by Mohammed Muizzu, said:
"We do not believe that such a session [the swearing-in ceremony] can be conducted after the 29th [Tuesday] without the vote”.
Therefore, if the vote of no confidence in Nasheed is not taken on Tuesday, the Parliamentary group has decided not to cooperate with any parliamentary work, Aslam said.
"Last but not least, the MDP Parliamentary Group will not accept any decision or work in parliament unless a decision is taken on this vote [Nasheed's impeachment], even if it is from a president who is being sworn in in accordance with the law.," he said at the end of the press conference, which was attended by several other members.
After the defeat in the second round of the presidential election, the MDP resumed the impeachment process and filed the petition with the signatures of 49 members of the party on the 9th of this month. The reasons for the dismissal were:
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Nasheed setting the agenda of the Parliament and proposing a decision on self-interest and relying on a particular party to set the agenda illegally
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Repeated irregular conduct of meetings
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Supporting members who are trying to disrupt the parliamentary system
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After several days of adjournment, Nasheed holds sessions to schedule an issue in the interest of The Democrats to whom Nasheed belongs.
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