Parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday said he is impatient to leave speakership amidst a push for an impeachment motion by the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
MDP decided to move the motion against Nasheed, who is also the president of the ruling party, after accusing him of violating parliamentary procedures and stalling a no-confidence motion against the attorney general.
Following Henveiru Hulhangu MP Hassan Latheef’s remarks in parliament on Wednesday morning, Nasheed said he was impatient to join the debates as the MP representing Mahchangolhi Medhu.
“As the honorable MPs would know, I am really very impatient sitting in this chair as the speaker. I hope to debate as the MP for Mahchangolhu Medhu,” Nasheed said.
Adhadhu can confirm that 54 MPs have signed to impeach Nasheed. An MDP MP also said that the motion will be submitted on Wednesday.
Fifty MPs from MDP signed the motion along with Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem, Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed, Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed.
There are 56 MDP MPs. The party did not disclose the names of the MPs that did not sign the motion.
A no-confidence motion to remove the speaker or deputy speaker must be submitted with the signatures of no less than one-fourth of parliament's full membership. That is 22 out of the 87 MPs.
According to the constitution, a no-confidence motion can be passed with a simple majority. That is 44 MPs.
