US concerned over “irregularities” in Maseeh’s no-confidence vote

Government of United States has expressed concern over “irregularities” which it says impeded a free and fair vote during the no-confidence vote taken on Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, Speaker of People’s Majlis of Maldives.

The no-confidence vote took place at People’s Majlis last Monday.

US embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka issued a statement this Tuesday expressing concern over what took place at the Majlis during the vote.

“We are concerned about irregularities ?that impeded a free and fair vote in the Maldives Parliament on March 27. We call on the Government to restore faith in democratic processes by ensuring free and impartial proceedings in Parliament, free and fair local elections, and basic freedoms of press, assembly, and speech,” read the statement.

During the debate on the no-confidence motion against Maseeh, Majority Leader, Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik alleged issues with the Majlis’ electronic voting system and proposed a roll-call vote instead.

Majlis regulation dictates that any form of voting other than electronic voting can only be used if an issue with the electronic voting system is definitively identified.

Nihan’s passed with a vote taken using the electronic voting system.

This caused an uproar within the Majlis, with lawmakers from Maldivian Democratic Party, Jumhoory Party, and the faction within ruling Progressive Party of Maldives loyal to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom protesting a roll-call vote was irregular in the circumstance.

13 of the protesting lawmakers were named, and were either forcibly removed from the Majlis by Maldives National Defense Force officers or walked out on their own accord when the officers intervened.

The remaining opposition lawmakers had walked out of the Majlis chamber, leaving only government-aligned lawmakers at the chamber when the roll-call vote was conducted to decide the fate of Maseeh.

The no-confidence motion failed with 48 lawmakers remaining in the chamber unanimously voting to keep Maseeh in his seat.