The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Tuesday proposed amendments to the parliament’s rules of procedure after proceedings came to a standstill following the submission of impeachment motions against both the speaker and deputy speaker.
Deputy speaker Eva Abdulla’s no confidence motion scheduled for Tuesday was adjourned as there was no one to preside over the sitting. Speaker Mohamed Nasheed decided to step away from duties until his motion was resolved.
But the rules of procedure stipulate that the speaker must preside over the sitting to move a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker.
MDP’s parliamentary group leader Mohamed Aslam sent a letter to parliament’s secretary general Fathimath Niusha on Tuesday requesting to table the proposed amendments.
“Please present this motion, along with attached details of the proposed amendments to the rules of procedure, to the chamber for MPs approval,” it read.
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According to parliament's rules, the procedures for the impeachment sittings must be approved by the general affairs committee.
The rules stipulate the general affairs committee to decide on the number of MPs who could speak in the debate and the time allocated for each speaker.
However, standing committees have yet to be reconstituted after the departure of 13 MPs from MDP on May 17.
The composition of the standing committees is based on the number of MPs in the political parties represented in parliament.
Parties have not been able to reach an agreement on the new composition and membership of the committees.
Parties held negotiations to reconstitute the committees on Thursday, but no agreements were reached.
MDP wants 64 percent in each committee, but the opposition parties claim the percentage has to be distributed between all the committees.
The committee issue has now been scheduled for Wednesday's sitting.
