The opposition coalition on Thursday submitted a no-confidence motion against Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef told Adhadhu that all MPs from the People’s National Congress (PNC), Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and three MPs from the Maldives National Party (MNP) signed the motion.
But the only MP who signed the motion from the Fikurehge Dhirun movement was Mid Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed ‘Bondey’.
“They [Fikurehge Dhirun MPs] are ready to sign. But we don't think that it is necessary for all of them to sign. We wanted to submit the motion as soon as possible.” said Shareef.
He added that Rasheed signed as a symbol of their participation. Adhadhu understands that MPs from Jumhooree Party (JP) also signed the motion.
Fikurehge Dhirun is a breakaway faction of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party. The faction was formed by parliament speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed after his defeat in the party primary.
On Wednesday, 12 MPs who belong to the faction resigned from MDP. Their decision followed the party’s expulsion of MP Ali Azim a day earlier for backing a no confidence motion against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath.
“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.
In late April, 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.
At a press conference on Sunday night, the opposition 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.
“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 campaign for the impeachment of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
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.
