MDP decides to prevent Presidential Address tomorrow

MDP Parliamentary Group has decided to try and prevent President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik from delivering the Presidential Address at the opening meeting of the Parliament scheduled for tomorrow.

The Parliamentary Group acted according to their decision made prior to 1 March as well, and prevented the President from delivering the Presidential Address.

“We have decided to not allow Dr Waheed inside Parliament. We will obstruct him as soon as he enters the building. If he tries to enter the chamber, we will not allow the Parliament to convene,” an MDP Parliament Group Member said.

He said that the 26 members present at the MDP Parliamentary Group Meeting today agreed to do everything possible to prevent the President from delivering the speech.

“The meeting went very well. We are united in our opinion on this issue. We all agree to not even allow the Speaker of Majlis Abdulla Shahid to give the opportunity to the President to deliver the speech,” the member said.

Last Thursday, MDP Vice President Alhan Fahmee said following a meeting with President Dr Waheed that allowing the Parliament to reconvene is the only way to hold an early election. He also agreed that stymieing the Parliament is not beneficial for the country.

Alhan said that the President is not strictly against holding an early election.

On 1 March, MDP members obstructed the opening of the Parliament, resulting in President Dr Waheed having to wait for more than nine hours.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said in an MDP meeting held in Addu that President Dr Waheed will not be allowed to deliver the Presidential Address, because doing so would ‘contaminate’ the Parliament.