Resolution to remove Vice President receives required number of signatures

The resolution to remove the Vice President has been signed by two-thirds of the parliament.

The resolution requires signatures by one-third of MPs to be submitted to the parliament, and votes in favour by two-thirds of MPs to be passed.

Article 100 (b) of the Constitution states that for the removal of the President or Vice President, “A resolution as provided for in article (a), must be submitted to the People’s Majlis, under the hand of at least one third of the members, specifying the reasons.”

Article 100 (e) states, “A resolution to remove the President or Vice President from office as specified in article (a) shall only be passed if it receives a two-thirds majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis, and in such event the President or Vice President shall cease to hold office.”

Two-thirds of the 85-member strong parliament is 57 MPs.

Baarah MP Ibrahim Sujau told Sun Online that 58 MPs had signed the resolution, and that this includes five MPs of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and five MPs of Jumhooree Party (JP).

MP Sujau said that 60 MPs are likely to sign the resolution before it is submitted to the parliament tomorrow.

Earlier, MP Sujau said that the Parliamentary Group of ruling party Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) aims to install Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb as Vice President before 26 July 2015.

Maldives will mark 50 years of independence on 26 July 2015.