Parliament: Budget tabled because Eva remains on sick leave

Parliament Secretariate says the matter of the budget has been tabled for Tuesday’s sitting because Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla remains on sick leave.

As per the parliament’s regulations, no other parliamentary works can proceed if the no-confidence motion has been filed against the speaker, without concluding its proceedings. However, the matter of the supplementary budget submitted by the Finance Ministry has been tabled for Tuesday’s sitting.

Parliament Secretariate’s Communications Director Hassan Ziyau told Sun that they are sure Nasheed’s no-confidence motion cannot take place tomorrow, as Eva, his cousin, and fellow Democrats’ member, has also called in sick for Tuesday.

He cited this as the reason the no-confidence motion has not been tabled for Tuesday’s sitting, as it cannot proceed without Eva.

However, he said the no-confidence motion has been tabled for Wednesday, as Eva has not called in sick for that day as of present.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Parliamentary Group Leader, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam says the party will not allow for the parliamentary work on the budget slated for Tuesday’s sitting to proceed without moving forward with a no-confidence motion submitted against Nasheed.

Nasheed’s no-confidence motion had been tabled on the agenda for the 15^th sitting of the third session of the parliament, which had failed to pan out both today and yesterday, as a result of Eva calling in sick both days.

Parliament’s Secretary General Fathimath Niusha decided the sitting could not be held without Eva there to chair it, on both days.

MDP MPs, who submitted the motion, protested at the parliament floor subsequently.