Aslam: Nasheed is not the decider on the no-confidence motion, no leeway this time

Parliament majority leader, Mohamed Aslam, on Monday, underscoring that the Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed cannot decide whether the no-confidence motion against him cannot be processed this session, has stressed it as a decision up to the Secretary General of Parliament.

MDP has submitted a second no-confidence motion against Nasheed. The Parliament Secretariat confirmed they had received the motion with the signatures of 49 MDP MPs,  adding the motion will be processed in accordance with the stipulated procedure under the constitution. 

Speaking at a press conference held by the parliament on Monday morning, Aslam said Nasheed cannot say that the no-confidence motion against him cannot be processed this session. In this trajectory, he stressed that there was no legal basis hindering Nasheed's removal, and affirmed there will be no leeway this time. 

In the midst of preparations to file the second no-confidence motion, Nasheed in the parliament's WhatsApp group on Sunday, said it would be difficult to accept the new motion in light of the withdrawal of the first no-confidence motion submitted against him in the last session. According to Nasheed, only one no-confidence motion can be accepted per session.

Responding to his remarks on Monday, Aslam said Nasheed cannot claim this, adding it is the Secretary-General who will make a decision on the motion. He expressed confidence in the Secretary-General to make the right decision.

Aslam said that there is no legal basis that can stop the submission of the no-confidence motion against the speaker. 

Aslam further said that the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are governed under Article 82 of the constitution while the parliament's regulation also stipulates clear administrative procedures for the process. 

He said the spirit of the MDP members, this time around, was firm on not stopping and are united to remove Nasheed as speaker. Therewith, he stressed there will be no leeway this time. 

The no-confidence motion initially submitted last June with the signatures of 56 MPs was withdrawn by MDP.

Aslam said the no-confidence motion was withdrawn because it was being leveraged as an argument to halt parliament. Hence, he said the motion was withdrawn, especially since there were important matters pending in the parliament.