Nasheed slammed for trying to sway votes in Eva's dismissal
A no-confidence motion against Eva was submitted with the signatures of 50 MPs.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Ruling MDP's parliamentary group leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam has said on Wednesday that parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed is contacting some MDP members to sway their vote in no-confidence motion against deputy speaker Eva Abdulla.
Twelve pro-Nasheed lawmakers, including Eva, left MDP last week to form a new political party. With it:
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On Thursday, MDP’s parliamentary group passed a motion to remove Eva from the post of deputy speaker of the parliament
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A no-confidence motion against Eva was submitted with the signatures of 50 MPs
Aslam told Atoll Times on Wednesday that he had received information that Nasheed had contacted the signatories. It is against regulations, he said.
"We have information (from these members) that president Nasheed is getting in touch with them, asking them to vote in a particular way on the issue. It is illegal for the speaker to act this way. Even if [Eva is Nasheed's] sister, he cannot favour one side," Aslam said.
The no-confidence motion against Eva was signed by 49 of the current 55 lawmakers representing MDP as well as Nilandhoo MP Abdul Muhsin who is an independent.
After the motion was filed, Nasheed had on Wednesday lashed out at MDP’s former deputy chairperson, Hulhumale MP Ali Niyaz, on a WhatsApp group.
"Niya, remember what you are doing," Nasheed wrote in a message to the group.
Niyaz said in the group that he was following the majority decision.
"I am a true Democrat," Niyaz said.
