MDP parliamentary group vote to dismiss Home Minister fails to pass

A vote taken by the parliamentary group of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to support the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition coalition to the Parliament against Home Minister Abdulla Imran has failed to pass.

The opposition coalition, composed of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) submitted the no-confidence motion, signed by 11 parliamentarians, on October 26.

The MDP parliamentary group took a vote regarding the motion this Sunday morning, deciding they will not support the motion.

The opposition submitted the no-confidence motion following remarks by Imran during a radio show trivializing the sexual assault of a woman that took place on a safari boat off suburban Hulhumale’ in June, and based on the allegation he provided false information to the Parliament.

MDP parliamentary group leader, Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim had already stated that the party will not support the motion, back in October.

“You should not believe you can execute things with this empty fishhook mentality, that we can get caught on an empty fishhook every time there’s a difference of opinion, or hope we will act in violation of our agenda within the Parliament,” said Ali Azim, speaking during a parliamentary sitting.

According to Parliament regulations, the submission of a no-confidence motion against a Cabinet minister requires the signature of 10 parliamentarians. It also requires a majority to vote to pass the motion - meaning the vote of 43 parliamentarians.

The motion will not pass without the support of MDP, which enjoys a supermajority at the Parliament.

PPM and PNC have nine parliamentarians between them. And the two additional votes for the no-confidence motion came from independent parliamentarians Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Usham and Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem.