The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has proposed holding a sitting during recess after parliament's second session of the year ended today without concluding important matters.
Speaking at a press conference in parliament by the MDP parliamentary group, which makes up a majority in the legislature, Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq said the proposal to hold a sitting during recess was submitted with the signature of 29 MPs.
After the speaker announced the end of the session today, Mohamed said requesting a sitting during recess was the only way to continue parliament.
"The [parliamentary group] agreed today to [request] a sitting outside the session under section 45(d) of the rules. The section on ways to hold sittings states that a sitting must be held within 24 days if it is proposed by one-third of parliament," Mohamed said.
Before parliament's second session of the year ended today, the MDP proposed an extension of the session.
In a letter sent to speaker Mohamed Nasheed, Hithadhoo Uthuru MP Mohamed Aslam, the MDP's parliamentary group leader, said it was Nasheed's responsibility under section 44 of parliament's rules to ensure that sittings could go ahead despite recusing himself from presiding.
Aslam said Nasheed violated the rules by deciding to hold a sitting today with only the matter of determining the proportion of independent MPs and MPs from political parties on standing committees on the agenda.
But Nasheed did not pay any heed to the proposal.
Speaking at a press conference at the President's Office today, government spokesman Mohamed Miuvaan said that since a sitting was held today because Nasheed wanted to do so, he could have held sittings over the past two days as well. If Nasheed believes that he cannot preside because of the no-confidence motion filed against him, he could resign, Miuvaan said.
"If he believes that parliament is deadlocked because a majority of parliament signed a no-confidence motion against him, the legislature must continue to function even if president Nasheed is to resign as speaker of parliament," Miuvaan said.
Miuvaan said it was unacceptable for parliament to be at a standstill in a country with a democratic presidential system. The constitution as well as parliament's laws and regulations allow for parliament to continue functioning, he said.
"This was what the government, the MDP parliamentary group and the public have been saying. They've been saying something else without accepting this," Miuvaan said.
He said further that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would ensure the functioning of the branches of the state as the highest authority of the state.
"The president also consulted with the MDP parliamentary group during the past week. But as I said, sittings can be held when the speaker of parliament wants to," Miuvaan said.
