Despite the cancelation of today's parliament sitting with a no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on the agenda after the Deputy Speaker took sick leave, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said the sitting could be held with another MP presiding over the impeachment vote.
But Secretary General Fathmath Niusha informed MPs that the sitting could not take place without Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla.
Parliament's rules require the Deputy Speaker to preside over a sitting with the impeachment of the Speaker on the agenda.
MDP parliamentary group leader Mohamed Aslam told Adhadhu that another MP could preside in accordance with the rules in circumstances where the Deputy Speaker is absent. But the Secretary General does not agree to hold the sitting that way, he said.
The MDP is seeking legal advice on the matter, Aslam said.
After today's sitting was canceled, Hulhumale' MP Ali Niyaz from the MDP told Adhadhu that the party was considering going to court to find a solution to holding the sitting.
The Democrats led by Nasheed, of which Eva is also a member, says the no-confidence motion to remove the Speaker was submitted for the second time in violation of the rules. The party said previously that it would try to obstruct the sitting.
The MDP parliamentary group says no parliamentary work could proceed without holding the sitting to conclude Nasheed's impeachment motion, including the special sitting due to be held for the swearing-in of the President-Elect, who is required to take the oath of office during a sitting of parliament.
If a no-confidence motion is submitted to remove the Speaker, parliament's rules state that it must be put to a vote before any other work can be done.
