The ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has proposed significant amendments to the parliament's regulations in order to resolve the current deadlock and facilitate the progress of the no-confidence motion against the Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla.
The ongoing deadlock in the parliament emerged when the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) initiated a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, leading to a halt in the parliament proceedings. However, due to the inability to reconstitute the standing committees, Eva's case could not be placed on the agenda within the 14-day notice period. The General Committee, responsible for determining debate and defense time, had not been reconstituted as well.
Subsequently, MDP also submitted a no-confidence motion against Speaker Nasheed, who recused himself from presiding over the parliament sessions.
Despite the inclusion of the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla on the agenda for Tuesday's sitting, the motion could not proceed due to Speaker Nasheed's absence in the chair. The parliamentary regulations require the Speaker to preside over a no-confidence motion against the Deputy Speaker.
MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam has proposed amendments to the parliament regulations, including allowing a member to preside over the parliament sitting in the absence of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker and eliminating the need for the general committee to fix debate and defense time. Instead, the amendment proposed that the duration of members' speeches during these debates would be determined by the Secretary General and the Speaker would be given 30 minutes to present their defense.
One of the amendments proposed by MP Aslam addresses the order of members presiding in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Currently, Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who resigned from MDP in support of Mohamed Nasheed, chairs the parliament sittings. Aslam's amendment suggests that the Speaker appoint five of the longest-serving members to preside over the sitting in the case where the Speaker and Deputy Speaker recuse themselves from presiding over the parliament. The Speaker would also announce the names of these five members in the order in which they will assume the chair.
According to parliamentary regulations, any amendment to the regulations must be passed by the parliament.
