The no-confidence motion against Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has been withdrawn just hours after it was confirmed.
A parliament member from the opposition coalition told Adhadhu that the motion was withdrawn to bring changes to paperwork and to let more MPs sign it.
“We actually planned to submit that motion on Thursday. So we will bring the necessary changes and resubmit on Thursday,” the MP said, noting that it was submitted early due to an administrative error.
Adhadhu understands that no MPs from the ‘Fikurehge Dhirun’ faction within the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) signed the motion against Shahid when submitted to the parliament.
The parliament secretariat also confirmed that the motion had been withdrawn. The parliament is currently in recess and sessions will begin on Thursday.
“Traitors will be removed”
The opposition has accused the government of “selling” part of the Maldives' territorial waters and vowed to remove “traitors” from power.
Earlier this month, the disputed territory between the Maldives and Mauritius was demarcated at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) after the government agreed that Chagos belongs to Mauritius.
In the Chagos issue, we will do the most we can to get back the land, the sea we lost. We will not step back. We are not scared of any punishments.
At a press conference on Sunday night, the ‘Chagos’ coalition alleged that Shahid benefited from the “selling” of Maldives’ territorial waters.
They claimed that Shahid was able to become the President of the UN’s 76th General Assembly because of a “secret deal” between the government and India.
Abdulla Shahid as President of 76th UNGA.
“In the Chagos issue, we will do the most we can to get back the land, the sea we lost. We will not step back. We are not scared of any punishments,” said the coalition.
The opposition has also initiated a no confidence motion against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath and announced a campaign for the impeachment of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) joined with Jumhooree Party (JP) and Maldives National Congress (MNC) to begin the impeachment motion.
However, the ‘Fikurehge Dhirun’ faction from MDP, backed by parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed, also supports the campaign.
So far, Medhu Henveiru MP Ali Azim is the only MDP member to sign the petition to remove Riffath. The party had previously warned that MPs who sign no-confidence motions would be expelled.
A no confidence motion needs the backing of 10 MPs to be initiated and requires two-third or 43 votes to win, but the government currently holds the majority seats in the People’s Majlis.
