Current amendments to the parliament regulations allow opposition MPs to remove the President through their votes alone. The AGO is planning to lodge a case at Supreme Court seeking revocation of these amendments.
The government has decided to submit a case at the Supreme Court regarding the amendments brought to the parliament regulations which effectively allow removal of a sitting President based on the votes of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) aligned members alone.
As per the Constitution and the Parliament Regulations, a sitting President can be stripped of his position through the votes of two thirds of the total number of parliamentarians. At present, two thirds amount to 58 out of 87 members.
Following the resignation of seven MPs to instead take up positions in the new administration, an amendment was brought to the parliament regulations to count the total number of MPs excluding any seats made vacant. The justification stated at the time is that there was not sufficient time before the end of the term to hold elections seeking new MPs.
This change resulted in MDP and The Democrats being able to reach the required number of votes through their members alone.
MDP's Parliamentary Group decided yesterday to submit a no confidence motion against President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
As reported in Mihaaru News, the Attorney General's Office has subsequently decided to lodge a case at the Supreme Court seeking revocation of the amendment.
Parliament Regulations have also been amended previously to ease and expedite the procedures regarding the removal of the President and Vice President.
As per this amendment, which was submitted by Henveiru Central MP Ali Azim of The Democrats, upon Parliament receiving a resolution to impeach the President or Vice President, they must inform the concerned leader within two days of a 14 day notice period, after which a sitting must be scheduled with the resolution on agenda.
The amendment also extends the debate window from two to three hours.
It also grants the President and Vice President a 30 minute period to present their defense, and allows for up to three lawyers to accompany them. The leader will also be allowed to attend and offer responses at the committee proceedings on the matter.
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