President Abdulla Yameen has responded to the opposition's claims that they have garnered enough votes to remove parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

While the opposition had said that they have the required number of members to impeach the speaker, with some ruling coalition MPs even openly criticizing the government on the official Viber chat group of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), the President had sent his response to the said chat group.

President Yameen said that the opposition "is living a dream" and that "Allah will show no mercy" to those who wander aimlessly while committing sins (such as drinking alcohol).

While the President says that the opposition is living a dream, they have, on Monday, submitted the no-confidence motion against the speaker, with the signatures of 45 parliamentarians, including members of the ruling coalitions.

According to an amendment passed by parliament on April 10, no-confidence motions against speakers and their deputies can only be submitted with a minimum of 42 signatures.