MDP votes to move second no-confidence motion against Eva

The MDP Parliamentary Group (PG) on Monday voted to submit a no-confidence motion against deputy speaker Eva Abdulla.

The MDP started collecting signatures for the motion on Sunday. The motion was approved at the party's parliamentary group meeting held Monday morning. 

However, it is not clear how many members.

MDP parliamentary group leader Mohamed Aslam told Atoll Times that the number of required signatures have been reached. However, the motion will be submitted with the signatures of a majority of members, he added.

A motion of no-confidence in the deputy speaker of parliament can be submitted with the signatures of one-fourth of the total number of MPs or not less than 22 MPs.

This is the second time the MDP has initiated the no-confidence proceedings against Eva. The MDP withdrew its motion, which had been filed in May with 50 signatures, after the first round of the presidential election on September 9. 

Eva has drawn the ire of MDP members over what transpired in Sunday’s parliament sitting.

Parliament, chaired by speaker Mohamed Nasheed's Democrats MP Hassan Afeef, on Sunday ruled that MDP filed the no-confidence motion against Nasheed in violation of the parliament's rules of procedure and asked the party to resubmit the motion. 

As the sitting began, chaired by Vilufushi MP Afeef, who represents the Democrats to which Nasheed belongs, Democrats MPs began to raise points of order, with the intent to prevent the motion from being moved. They cited the reason that the resolution was not in accordance with the rules of procedure.

Democrats parliamentary group leader, Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim said the motion was submitted without the details it should have. Therefore, the motion cannot be submitted to parliament and the opportunity will not be given, he repeatedly said.

Afeef accepted the point of order raised by Azim and declared the motion invalid.

In a second sitting on Sunday, Eva seconded Afeef's decision.