After repeated failed attempts to conduct the vote on cabinet approval in parliament yesterday, a sitting on the matter has been scheduled once again, this time for 11:00 hrs today.
After facing multiple disruptions and being cancelled thrice yesterday, the parliament sitting to vote on cabinet approval has once again been rescheduled, this time for 1100 hrs today.
Sunday morning's extraordinary sitting of the parliament proceeded through the debate stage, until the time for voting.
During the break in the floor proceedings, opposition and majority party of parliament Maldivian Democratic Party held a parliamentary group meeting where they issued a whip to not cast votes in favour of approving four members of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet.
Earlier yesterday, The Democrats had also indicated they would be withholding approval from four cabinet members.
Following this, government aligned MPs disrupted parliament proceedings, creating commotions on the floor, leading to the sitting eventually being halted.
As the time of voting neared, members ascended into the chambers, locking it, taking over the Speaker's chair, and confiscating vote cards, effectively preventing the vote from ongoing.
Altercations between members of the two leanings occurred, resulting in a number of MPs sustaining injuries, with some having been rushed to hospital for treatment.
However, majlis attempted to continue the sitting, reconvening at 20:00 hrs last night. With increased disruptions, together with continued protests outside the parliament premises, this sitting was also halted at around 23:00 hrs.
Today's sitting, with cabinet approval on the agenda, has been scheduled to be held at 11:00 hrs.
MDP has announced that it will deny approval to Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Ali Haidar, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. The Democrats, meanwhile, have Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Ali Haidar, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer on their list of those to be rejected, in addition to the AG. The two parties have reservations against, but are as of yet undecided on whether to approve, Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal and Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar.
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