The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a privileges complaint over speaker Mohamed Nasheed's refusal to preside over parliament sittings and proceed with a no-confidence motion against deputy speaker Eva Abdulla.
The complaint filed by Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef from the MDP stated that Nasheed's refusal to chair the sitting for Eva's removal violated the constitution.
Despite refusing to preside over the sitting with Eva's impeachment motion on the agenda, Nasheed was present in the parliament house, Shareef said.
"As a result of the speaker of parliament acting against the rules, the sitting of parliament where the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker was included in the agenda could not take place. This act by the speaker of parliament infringes on the rights of the whole parliament as stated in section 180(b) of parliament's standing orders," Shareef said, presenting the privileges complaint.
The complaint was accepted with 37 votes in favour from the 50 MPs who participated in the vote.
Speaking first during the debate on his complaint, Shareef attempted to propose extending parliament's session without breaking for recess until the no-confidence motions against the speaker and deputy speaker as well as other important agenda items could be completed.
But Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who was presiding as the chair, said the proposal could not be made during the debate on the complaint.
Afeef adjourned the sitting after some MPs raised points of order with various complaints. When the sitting resumed, some MPs who wished to speak during the debate were not present in the chamber.
Afeef parked the privileges complaint saying the debate could not continue without offering opportunities to the absent MPs.
"None of the [four MPs who wished to speak on the privileges complaint] are present at the moment inside the chamber. Section 184 states that they should be allowed opportunities. And a certain amount of time has not been allocated for this problem," Afeef said.
Despite some of the MPs arriving in the chamber before Afeef finished speaking, he moved on to the next item on the agenda.
Some MDP MPs strongly objected. Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa said the chair could not proceed to another agenda item without concluding the privileges complaint.
Citing the parliament's rules, speaker Nasheed also said previously that a privileges complaint must be concluded before moving to another item. He parked attorney general Ibrahim Riffath's no-confidence motion after saying so.
Despite some MPs reminding Afeef of what Nasheed said, Afeef did not relent and continued with other items on the agenda.
