No-confidence motion against speaker Maseeh submitted with 45 signatures

The opposition coalition has resubmitted the no-confidence motion against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

The motion was submitted on Monday afternoon, with the signatures of 45 parliamentarians.

While the speaker will be given 14 days to respond, there are reports that he could resign prior to the vote.

Back in March, the opposition had submitted the motion to parliament with 26 signatures, but Maseeh survived the impeachment, as the opposition failed to get the required 42 votes. 48 lawmakers had voted against the no-confidence motion against the speaker.

Later on, 9th April, the opposition submitted the motion again, this time with 31 signatures. However, a day after it was submitted, parliament submitted, reviewed and passed amendments stipulating that no-confidence motions against parliament speakers and their deputies can only be submitted with a minimum of 42 signatures. While parliamentarians aligned with the opposition had abstained from the vote, it was passed with 46 votes.

Votes of 42 MPs are required to pass the no-confidence motion against the speaker. Maseeh represents President Abdulla Yameen’s faction of PPM, which hold majority in parliament.