Maldives opposition moves to oust pres Muizzu

Main opposition MDP is making a bid to remove incumbent President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu from office.

According to a MDP lawmaker, the party's parliamentary group during a sit-down late Sunday has decided to file a no-confidence motion against the president. 

The party has already received enough backing from lawmakers to file the motion, the MP asking not to be named said. 

MDP lawmakers had used its parliament majority to amend the parliamentary rules of procedure to bend the censure process in its favor. Despite losing as many as 13 lawmakers to the ruling party, MDP now working with its breakaway faction the Democrats have enough lawmakers between them to pass a no-confidence motion.

Before the amendment two thirds majority of the 87 member parliament was needed to remove the president or vice president. However, MDP orchestrated the move to amend the parliamentary rules of procedure to limit the two thirds majority to the total sitting members. 

After seven lawmakers had resigned to take up senior positions in the new government, the total number of sitting MPs has now been reduced to 80. This means the backing of 54 lawmakers would now be enough to oust the president from office. 

The newly formed opposition coalition MDP and Democrats have 58 lawmakers between them. 

The bid to file a no-confidence motion against president Muizzu came after the ruling PPM/PNC coalition MPs made a move remove the parliament Speaker and his deputy, both from MDP following the chaos in parliament on Sunday.

Ruling party and opposition lawmakers clashed inside the parliament chambers after the opposition coalition announced that it would not approve all the members of president Muizzu's first cabinet.