Maseeh's no confidence vote still valid: Opposition Coalition
Motion still valid
Press conference held by MPs Ali Hussain and Imthiyaz Fahmy
Opposition reformist coalition has stated that the vote of no confidence on Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh was still valid.
Speaking in a press conference in Maafannu Kunooz, Kendhoo Constituency MP and lawyer Ali Hussain stated that the motion was still valid and still had legal backing.
The motion was thrown out after Parliament Secretariat declared that four of the 45 MPs who had signed the no confidence motion had lost their seats. The Secretariat had also declared that one other MP had withdrawn his signature. Therefore, the motion did not have the required votes to enter the Parliament.
The letter sent in by Parliament Deputy Speaker Moosa Manik said that following the Supreme Court ruling criminalizing floor crossing Maduvvari MP Mohamed Ameeth, Dhihdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim and Vilingili MP Saud Hussain had lost their seats.
MP Ali Hussain said that the four MPs who had been stripped from their seats must be allowed to attend Parliament session on Monday. He cited Parliament law clause 205 which states that an MP must be brought to session and Committee meetings, even if he is under arrest.
MP Ali Hussain added that this was the right of those Parliamentarians, adding that Speaker Maseeh must ensure this as well.
The opposition coalition had warned that they will resort to protests if the MPs were not able to attend session.
