Maldives National Party (MNP) Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader Thimarafushi MP Abdulla Riyaz has stated that the Speaker's decision today that the party has lost its right of representation in the parliament is unlawful.
MNP previously had three members in parliament. MP Riyaz and Dhangethi MP Mohamed Nazim got elected to parliament on Jumhooree Party (JP) tickets and later formed MNP and transferred to it. The third member is Villimale' MP Ahmed Usham, who resigned this week to assume the post of Attorney General in the new administration.
The Speaker announced this morning that MNP has lost its right to representation in the parliament. He based it on the provision in the Parliament Regulations which state that a party that an MP wishes to transfer to and represent after he's been elected, must have at least three parliamentarians to its name.
In his turn to speak during the budget debate, MP Riyaz raised a point of order on the Speaker's decision and alleged that it contravened Articles 16, 17 and 30 of the Constitution.
Article 16 covers the guarantee of rights, while Article 17 promotes non-discrimination. Article 30 of the Constitution covers the freedom to form political parties, associations and societies.
Riyaz claims that Article 33 (c) of the Parliament Regulations directly contradict these three articles of the Constitution. He questioned the validity of the parliament refusing to recognize him as an MNP member while the Elections Commission has no objection to accepting him as such.
"The Speaker's decision to refuse to recognize me as an MNP member, and instead declare I am an independent, is in contravention of Articles 16, 17 and 30 of the Maldives' Constitution," Riyaz said.
However, the Speaker rejected the point of order.
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