The opening of this year’s first session of parliament began with disruptions, with opposition lawmakers being called upon to leave the chamber within the first 10 minutes.
Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam was named by the Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed first after he raised his voice, got out of his seat and approached the Speaker’s podium at the parliament session where President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is set to deliver his address.
Three other opposition lawmakers from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition, Madduvari MP Adam Shareef, Maavashu MP Mohamed Saeed, and Felidhoo MP Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, were also called and asked to leave the parliament chambers before the session began.
Speaker Nasheed had temporarily interrupted the session to allow for the disruption to settle; he was seen speaking to the opposition members, away from his podium.
Meanwhile, protests ensued near Roashanee Magu and Sosun Magu—the roads near the parliament—and six individuals have already been arrested. They were calling for the immediate release opposition leader and former President Abdulla Yameen.
The parliament session resumed, and the President began his address at 9:40 a.m.
The session is currently ongoing.
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