Eva’s Ongoing Sick Leave Halts No-Confidence Motion Sitting Again

The parliamentary sitting on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed faces another setback as Deputy Speaker and MP for Galolhu North constituency, Eva Abdulla, extends her sick leave, prompting the Parliament Secretariat to cancel today’s scheduled session.

The motion, tabled by the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) with 49 signatures, has encountered repeated disruptions due to Eva’s absence. 

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The motion’s 14-day notice period lapsed on Sunday, leading to its consecutive placement on the agenda. However, Eva, grappling with dengue, has been on sick leave prior to the motion’s expiry, resulting in successive cancellations of the sittings.

The Parliament Secretariat confirmed Eva’s communication of sick leave for today, necessitating the cancellation of the session, in compliance with the Parliament Regulations, stipulating that the Deputy Speaker must preside over a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

Given the delays in addressing the no-confidence motion, the Secretariat temporarily shifted focus, prioritising the 2024 budget and supplementary budget during the previous session. This decision aligned with the Public Finance Act, as the deadline for budget submission was imminent.

However, Members of the MDP disrupted the session, contending that no parliamentary proceedings should proceed without addressing the pending no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer refrained from attending the parliamentary sitting, following advice from Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, echoing the MDP’s stance. Nonetheless, Ameer submitted the budget to the Parliament Secretariat and made it public on the Ministry’s website.

Amid challenges in advancing the no-confidence motion, the MDP has taken a new approach, submitting a constitutional case regarding the matter to the Supreme Court.