Nasheed resigns as parliament speaker amid confidence motion deadlock
Nasheed said he hoped his resignation would help restore stability and integrity within the democratic system.
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Monday resigned from the speakership after days of deadlock over a no-confidence motion filed against Nashed by the outgoing ruling MDP.
Nasheed resigned from the post after the no-confidence motion was tabled eight times.
Deputy speaker Eva Abdulla, who presided over the sittings on Sunday and Monday, adjourned the first sitting of Monday at 2:30 pm after objecting to leave the chair.
However, the parliamentary administration scheduled another sitting for 4pm. As soon as the sitting started, Secretary General Fatimath Niusha invited Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef to preside over the sitting.
Shareef took over the chair and said there was no point in continuing the no-confidence motion against Nasheed as he had sent his resignation letter to the secretary general.
In his resignation letter, which was read out by the secretary general, Nasheed said:
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He thought about the impact of the ongoing deadlock in parliament on the democratic system
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The MDP, which has a majority in parliament, has acted against the basic principles of democracy
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His no-confidence motion was moved a second time; after filing the case, the MDP is acting in a manner that would restrict the powers of the parliament forever
The letter said he regretted the actions of the MDP and that the party was treating the people unfairly.
"... If I continue as speaker of parliament, the damage done to parliament by the majority party will worsen. Therefore, I have resigned from the post of speaker of parliament," Nasheed said in his resignation letter.
Nasheed said he hoped the members of parliament would uphold the principles of democracy and serve the interests of the people. He said he hoped his resignation would help restore stability and integrity within the democratic system.
