MDP seeks regulation changes to facilitate no-confidence motion against Eva

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted amendments to the Parliament’s regulations, seeking to authorize the secretary-general to assign an MP to preside over sittings in situations where no-confidence motions are submitted against both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, leading to their recusal.

The amendment was submitted on behalf of the MDP by the party’s parliamentary group leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam.

In a letter to the Parliament’s SG Fathimath Niusha on Tuesday, Aslam said he believes changes to the regulation to be crucial, given the current deadlock.

He is seeking two key changes.

One of the amendments is to authorize the Parliament’s SG to appoint an MP to preside sittings if both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker recuse themselves due to no-confidence motions.

The second amendment is to authorize the Parliament’s SG to decide on debate time in no-confidence motions against the Speaker, and set the response time to 30 minutes.

Parliament’s regulations currently dictates that it is the Speaker who must appoint an MP to fill in if both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are unavailable, even if no-confidence motions have been filed against both. And it is the General Purposes Committee that must decide the debate time and other matters related to no-confidence motions.

It is also the reason for the current deadlock at the Parliament.

The Parliament sitting could not be held Tuesday, after Nasheed recused himself from the sitting but also failed to appoint an MP to fill in.

The parties have also failed to come to an agreement on reappointment of committees in accordance with the recent changes to the Parliament’s composition, resulting in delay in scheduling the no-confidence motion against Eva.