MDP Boycotts Parliament Session, Quorum Insufficient

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the majority party in the Parliament, chose to boycott today’s session as part of its ongoing endeavor to advance a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Nasheed.

Despite several members being present in the House before the session commenced, they refrained from entering the chamber, choosing instead to congregate in the courtyard.

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Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Eva Abdullah, clarified that the majority party had failed to achieve the necessary quorum for the day’s proceedings. Despite the apparent intention of some members to abstain from the session, she expressed her commitment to achieving the quorum.

Eva highlighted the parliamentary rules and a recent Supreme Court ruling, emphasising that essential tasks, including budget submissions, must proceed. She noted that the judgment explicitly stated that necessary work could continue even if a no-confidence motion was in play.

While Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer had been summoned to the meeting, he declined to attend based on earlier advice from the Attorney General. 

Eva argued that the Supreme Court ruling debunked this advice, making it clear that the Finance Minister’s absence was not the sole reason for the session’s delay.

Ameer informed the parliament today that his inability to attend was due to illness. 

MDP members expressed their primary concern that the no-confidence motion against Nasheed, the Speaker of Parliament, might face obstacles in moving forward.