Democrats accuse MDP of attempting to impede Muizzu’s oath of office

The Democrats condemned the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Wednesday, accusing the party of attempting to impede President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s oath of office next month.

In a press conference earlier Wednesday, MDP’s parliamentary group leader Mohamed Aslam said the Parliament cannot conduct any other work without first attending to the no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

Democrats responded with a statement in which it condemned the MDP for attempting to impede the incoming president’s oath of office.

The party described it as an “ugly act” carried out by the MDP parliamentary group at President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s instructions.

“We ask that you restore respect for the constitution, the principles of democracy, and morals,” said the Democrats.

The no-confidence motion against Nasheed – MDP’s second attempt to oust its former leader – is scheduled for Sunday.

The MDP parliamentary group convened for a meeting on Wednesday, during which they passed a three-line whip to vote in favor of the motion.

The vote was unanimous

The MDP had originally submitted no-confidence motions against both Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla earlier this year. The motion against Eva was submitted with the endorsement on 50 MPs in May, and the motion against Nasheed followed, with the endorsement of 54 MPs, in June.

But the MDP withdrew the motions in September, while the party was engaged in negotiations with the Democrats – the party to which both Nasheed and Eva belong – for the presidential runoff election.

The recent motion against Nasheed was submitted with the endorsement of 49 MPs on October 9.

The MDP holds a majority at the Parliament, with 56 MPs. 43 votes are required to pass the motion.