Majlis Session Canceled Due to Insufficient Quorum
Photo: Peoples Majlis
The parliamentary session scheduled for today was canceled due to insufficient attendance, as announced by Deputy Speaker and Galolhu North MP Eva Abdullah.
The cancellation was attributed to the failure to meet the quorum requirement of 22 members, in accordance with parliamentary rules of procedure.
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Among the items on the agenda for today’s session were the approval of two ambassadorial appointments, a case referred by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to remove a judge, the delayed Industrial Relations Bill, the JSC Composition Amendment Bill, and a debate on four pending resolutions.
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, who presides over the sessions, has been granting additional time to members in an effort to reach the required quorum. Last week, all sessions were postponed until quorum requirements were met, with a particular focus on advancing The Democrats’ general vote to change the system.
ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ރައީސް، ރައީސް މުޙައްމަދު ނަޝީދު މަޤާމުން ވަކިކުރުމުގެ ޤަރާރެއް ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިދާރާއަށް ވަނީ ލިބިފައެވެ. މި މައްސަލަ ޤާނޫނު އަސާސީއާއި ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ޤަވާއިދުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެ މަތިން ކުރިއަށްގެންދެވޭނެ ވާހަކަ ދަންނަވަމެވެ.— People's Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) October 9, 2023
Today’s cancellation follows the re-filing of a motion of no-confidence against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). With 55 MDP MPs in the House and 48 MLAs having signed the impeachment petition, the motion secured the required 45 signatures.
The basis for the no-confidence motion is the allegation that Nasheed is adversely impacting the MDP under the guise of reform, according to the MDP Parliamentary Group (PG). Previously, the MDP parliamentary group had initiated the motion, but complications arose when a motion to dismiss Deputy Speaker Eva was also filed alongside it.
The ongoing dispute over the presidency, coupled with the challenge of reconstituting the standing committees of parliament after 13 MLAs left the MDP, further hindered the proceedings.
This parliamentary gridlock persisted for two months without any legislative work being conducted. Subsequently, following the unsuccessful first round of the presidential election, the MDP withdrew the cases against Nasheed and Eva.
It is noteworthy that the Democrats have opted not to support the MDP candidate in the second round of the presidential election, with plans to participate in the government of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The Democrats have asserted that the no-confidence motion was filed with the intention of disrupting the swearing-in ceremony and impeding the investigation into alleged government corruption.
