Commission informs parliament on the dismissal of MPs Il'ham and Shinaan from PPM

Elections Commission has informed the parliament that the MP for Dhangethi constituency, Il'ham Ahmed and the MP for south Mahchangolhi constituency, Abdulla Shinaan have been dismissed from PPM.

The information has been confirmed to Sun Media by the Secretary General of the parliament, Ahmed Mohamed.

But the Elections Commission has not announced the by-election for the constituencies and so it is unclear weather the MPs lost their seat.

Previously, the MP for Thulusdhoo constituency, Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim (Wadde) along with the MP for Vilingili constituency, Saud Hussain, the MP for Maduvvari constituency, Mohamed Ameeth and the MP for Dhiddhoo constituency, Abdul Latheef Mohamed was dismissed from PPM.

After their dismissal, the Election Commission announced the by-elections for their constituencies.

The Commission said that they lost the seat at the parliament as per the Supreme Court ruling.

The four MPs have since then appeal their case to the Supreme Court today.

The Supreme Court of the Maldives have passed a ruling stating that MPs who switch their political party will lose their seat at the parliament.

The ruling said that MPs who are dismissed, leave or switch from their political party to another will lose their seat at the parliament. And the departure from the party will be confirmed by the Elections Commission.

But on Sunday night, the Supreme Court passed ruling saying that MPs won't lose their seats in relation to an issue prior to the ruling.

Article 78 of the Constitution states that if a seat at the parliament becomes vacant, a member has to be elected within 60 days. And if the Parliament session is less than six months to the next election, a member cannot be elected to the parliament.