Collection of signatures underway to initiate Deputy Speaker Eva’s dismissal

Efforts have commenced to collect sufficient number of signatures to initiate the dismissal of Parliament’s Deputy Leader Eva Abdulla.

A member of Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) parliamentary group confirmed the same to Sun.

The member who spoke to Sun that many lawmakers of MDP view there is no reason for Eva to remain as the deputy speaker following her resignation as a member of the party.

Therewith, the member said efforts were underway to collect enough signatures to file a no-confidence motion against Eva at the request of many lawmakers of the party.

The law dictates that individuals serving as the speaker or the deputy speaker can only be dismissed from their post if such a motion is approved by two-thirds of the sitting parliamentarians.

Efforts to dismiss Eva have commenced following the resignation of all lawmakers belonging to ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction from MDP. A total of twelve members including Eva tendered their resignation on Wednesday.

The resignations came at a time MDP’s disciplinary committee have begun investigating lawmakers loyal to Nasheed for misconduct for being complicit in efforts to file no-confidence motions against some cabinet members. Many of these lawmakers had already been given their final warnings. The disciplinary committee, on Tuesday, expelled Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim from the party over such a case of misconduct.