New Delhi: Maldives’ largest Opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a majority of seats in the People’s Majlis (Maldives Parliament), has readied an impeachment motion against the country’s President Mohamed Muizzu, reports have emerged from local media.
The news website Sun.mv reported Monday that a lawmaker from the MDP informed it of the impeachment proposal. The lawmaker highlighted that the proposal has gathered enough signatures, including support from the Democrats — another Opposition party.
However, the motion is yet to be filed, Sun.mv reported.
The Parliament had amended its orders to make it easier to submit an impeachment motion. The MDP and the Democrats together have 56 MPs in the 87-member Parliament, according to Sun.mv.
The Constitution of Maldives, along with the standing orders of the Parliament, allow for the impeachment of the President with 56 votes, according to reports by Maldivian local media.
According to the online news website, Adhadhu, out of the required 56 signatures, the proposal has received 34 signatures so far.
As ThePrint reported earlier, the MDP and Democrats (an offshoot of the MDP) agreed to cooperate in the Parliament of Maldives last week.
The current situation has arisen after the Parliament witnessed unruly scenes, including rocks being thrown by protesters from outside the building Sunday, after the MDP vowed to reject a few of Muizzu’s cabinet appointments, local media reported.
The four appointments the MDP vowed to veto were that of Mohamed Saeed, economic minister; Ahmed Usham, attorney general; Ali Haidar, housing minister; and Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Islamic minister.
The decision led to scenes of chaos within the Parliament, with government and Opposition lawmakers partaking in physical violence as pro-government supporters led by ministers gathered outside the House.
There has been no official comment from the two parties.
ThePrint reached the MDP via text but no response was received at the time of publication of this report. The report will be updated if and when a response is received.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)