A no-confidence motion to remove Galolhu Uthuru MP Eva Abdulla as Deputy Speaker of parliament has been submitted with the signatures of 50 MPs.
The motion was signed by 49 MPs of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Independent MP for Nolhivaram Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla.
The no-confidence motion against Eva was moved amid stalled impeachment proceedings against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
The MDP's no-confidence motion against Nasheed was tabled in the agenda for sittings scheduled yesterday and today.
However, after failing to proceed with the motion on both days, the MDP accused Deputy Speaker Eva of obstruction.
MDP MPs protested in the chamber as Eva presided over a sitting scheduled this morning with Nasheed's impeachment motion on the agenda.
The present dispute arose after Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who presided over the first of yesterday's sittings, decided that the MDP's no-confidence motion against Nasheed was not in compliance with parliament's rules.
When Afeef declared the motion void and ended the sitting, the Parliament Secretariat scheduled a second sitting for yesterday.
Eva presided over the second sitting and ended it after backing Afeef's decision.
Parliament's committees on ethics and privileges held meetings yesterday due to concern over Afeef and Eva's actions.
The committees decided that the annulment of the impeachment motion contravened the rules and that Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla and Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef violated parliamentary privileges with their decisions.
Pandemonium broke out as Eva assumed the chair to preside over today's sitting with Nasheed's impeachment motion on the agenda.
As the sitting scheduled for 11 am began and Eva announced the agenda, MDP MPs gathered in front of her desk and expressed their displeasure.
MPs from The Democrats - parliament's minority party to which both Eva and Nasheed belong - also raised their voices against the MDP MPs.
Citing the disorder in the chamber, Eva adjourned the sitting.
MDP MP protests near Deputy Speaker Eva.
The sitting resumed after the lunch break with Eva presiding despite the objections of MDP MPs.
Both sittings scheduled for today could not be held due to MDP and Democrats MPs "causing loss of order" in the chamber, she said.
The first sitting was scheduled for 9 am this morning with presenting the 2024 budget on the agenda.
But it was canceled due to a lack of quorum as MPs refused to enter the chamber and Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer informed parliament that he could not attend due to illness.
As Eva attempted to proceed with the afternoon's sitting, MPs started raising consecutive points of order.
Democrats MP for Henveiru Hulhagu Hassan Latheef, the first to be allowed to present a point of order, said the impeachment motion against Nasheed has now been dismissed and a sitting could not proceed with the annulled motion on the agenda.
