Motive behind establishing secret voting was to bring down the government: MDP

MDP has said that the motive behind establishing secret voting for no-confidence motions was to orchestrate a situation to bring down the current government.

During a news conference today held at the MDP office, the leader of the MDP parliamentary group Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that MDP took this initiative because they did not see any other avenue to bring down the government except through parliament.

He said that since President Waheed came to power, a number of initiatives by the previous government have come to a halt. He also said that even if it means leaving all pending issues aside, the most important thing for the parliament to do right now is to bring an end to President Waheed’s government.

“The reason we took the initiative to establish secret voting for no-confidence is to bring an end to the current government. We did this because, reflecting on the situation right now, there is no other avenue in the parliament. Even if it means we stop everything we are doing in the parliament now, we have to bring an end to Waheed’s government,” said Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader Ali Waheed said that they will propose no-confidence motions for some ministers in the near future.

He also said that MDP is very worried by the actions of Home Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and Defence Minister Colonel (Rtd) Ahmed Nazim and that they will be monitoring their actions closely. He also said that confidence in them seem to look very dim.

“We will propose motions of no-confidence of some ministers in the near future. We are very concerned about the stands taken by the Defence minister and Home Minister, as you must know, regarding the GMR issue. Therefore, we are watching their actions closely. Confidence in them seem to look very dim,” said Ali Waheed.

The report on establishing secret voting for no-confidence motions was passed to the Parliament by the General Committee today and was voted 41 in favour.

Some MPs of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Jumhooree Party (JP), which are included in the government coalition, voted in favour of establishing secret voting.

The MPs of DRP who voted in favour are party leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, his wife Maduvvari MP Visam Ali, Alifushi MP Mohamed Nashiz, Thulusdhoo MP Rozaina Adam, Medhu-henveiru MP Ali Azim, Hithadhoo-south MP Hassan Latheef, Mathiveri MP Hussain Mohamed, and Kelaa MP Abdullah Mausoom.

MPs of JP who voted in favour are party leader Gasim Ibrahim and Abdullah Abdul Raheem.

Independent MPs who voted in favour are Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed and Feydhoo MP Alhan Fahmy.