The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has issued a three-line whip to vote in favor of the no-confidence motion against Speaker of the People’s Majlis and Former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The decision was reached unanimously by all members present at a meeting of the MDP Parliamentary Group convened on Wednesday.

The no-confidence motion against Nasheed is scheduled for 9am, October 29.

The notice regarding the no-confidence motion submitted against Speaker Nasheed was sent to him on October 12.

The letter addressed to Nasheed, who is also the MP for Central Mahchangoalhi consistency, reads that the People’s Majlis received a resolution signed by 49 lawmakers, seeking to remove Nasheed from the post of Parliament Speaker on October 9.

Article 205 (c) of the regulations of the parliament reads that the notice of the resolution must be issued by the secretariat to members and the speaker within three days of receiving a resolution to remove the speaker.

Further, according to Article 82 (b) of the Maldives Constitution, it should be communicated with the parliament 14 days prior to the introduction of such a resolution.

In accordance with Article 205 (c) of the regulations of the parliament and Article 82 (b) of the Maldives Constitution, Nasheed has been sent the notice on the no-confidence motion submitted against him.

The no-confidence motion was re-submitted against former president Nasheed on Monday, with the signatures of 49 lawmakers.

The resolution on the no-confidence motion revealed that Nasheed is observed to act on his personal interests in compiling the agenda of the People’s Majlis and proposing a specific decision to the floor of the house.

The resolution also states that he has repeatedly set agendas in violation of the rules of the parliament by burdening a particular political party or leaning more towards a specific party.

In addition to this, it has been claimed that Nasheed has supported those who seek to undermine the parliamentary system instead of managing the parliamentary system as he should.

Also shedding light on the delay of sittings for several days, the resolution notes that he had carried out proceedings for matters linked to his personal interests and his ‘The Democrats’ party.

MDP gathered the signatures to pass and submit a no-confidence motion to oust their leader as Parliament Speaker during June as well. This came with a move to out Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla as well. However, the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were withdrawn on the basis of maintaining peace and in the best interests of the party.

At that time, lawmakers had expressed their displeasure on the floor of the parliament for days, alleging that the Speaker was delaying the proceedings of the no-confidence motion against him. The delay in question was due to the no-confidence motion against Nasheed and Eva being taken up together and the failure to pass the constitution of the parliament’s standing committees.

The no-confidence motion from June stated that while the Speaker is supposed to administer meetings and committees in accordance with the Maldives Constitution, rules of parliament and parliamentary decisions without prejudice to any particular party, things were not proceeding that way.

Further, it also highlighted the issue of delays, as parliamentary standing committees are to be formed in the wake of changes in the parties to which the MPs belong.

In addition to these issues, the resolution also highlighted the actions taken to delay the no-confidence motion against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, tabled by Nasheed after the opposition alliance submitted it regarding his alleged failure to act in the best interests of Maldives over the Chagos Archipelago dispute.

There had also been an increase in complaints regarding the speaker threatening lawmakers.

MDP’s PG unanimously passed to file the no-confidence motion against Nasheed once more, on Sunday, during a PG meeting.

Although the main ruling party attempted to cooperate with their estranged former leader and his ‘The Democrats’ during the second round of the 2023 Presidential Election, their efforts went down the drains and MDP lost both rounds.