Muizzu reappoints three ministers rejected by People's Majlis
The three members took their oath of office in front of Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood
The three cabinet members rejected by parliament
The three members of the cabinet who were rejected by the People’s Majlis on Monday, have been reappointed.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu reappointed Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed to his cabinet of ministers on Monday.
The reappointment comes against a ruling by the Supreme Court, refusing to administer the oath of the ministers who weren’t approved by the parliament.
The three members took their oath of office in front of Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood.
This comes at a time the Supreme Court had refused to administer their oath despite the President’s Office having requested the court to do so. The Chief Justice had refused to do so.
The Supreme Court refused to administer oath to the three ministers, based on its 2010 ruling which states that those who do not have the approval of the People’s Majlis cannot continue to hold on to their positions as ministers.
However, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has also announced the appointment of Shaheem as their minister.
The parliament sitting to vote on the cabinet’s approval was held on Monday afternoon.
Although 72 lawmakers were present at the parliament chambers at the time voting proceeded, there was a difference in the number of lawmakers who participated in the voting process to approve different ministers.
The former ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which currently holds a majority in the parliament issued a three-line red whip to reject the appointment of four cabinet members including Shaheem, Haidar, Usham and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, who narrowly escaped the same fate during Monday’s vote process.
The Democrats had also backed the decision by MDP.
Only 24 lawmakers voted to approve Usham’s appointment as AG, with the remaining 44 members voting against.
30 MPs voted in favor of approving the Islamic Minister’s appointment, with 31 against.
46 MPs voted against approving Haidar’s appointment and only 24 MPs voted in favor of his appointment.
Although the vote was initially scheduled for Sunday’s parliament sitting, the MDP PG’s move evoked chaos, leading to a clash between pro-government lawmakers and opposition MPs.
