MDP submits no-confidence motion against Minister Saeed to Parliament!

A motion of no-confidence against the Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, has been submitted to the People’s Majlis with the signatures of 13 members from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The motion submitted by the MDP asserts that Minister Saeed has explicitly violated the Constitution in the performance of his cabinet duties as mandated under Article 132. It further alleges that he has neglected his constitutional obligation to remain accountable to the People’s Majlis, as required by Article 134. Additionally, the motion states that the Minister has engaged in activities prohibited for cabinet members under Article 136 of the Constitution, and consequently, he no longer retains the confidence of the Parliament.

The party has submitted six specific proposals regarding the matter.

Highlighting the continuous surge of the dollar rate on the black market and the subsequent skyrocketing of commodity prices, the MDP stated that the failure to implement any effective economic reform policies to date has led to a severe shortage of foreign currency. This lack of action has driven the black market exchange rate above MVR 21. Despite these challenges, the MDP accused the Minister of downplaying the gravity of the situation.

The complaint further alleged that Minister Saeed failed to exercise due diligence in safeguarding state assets and finances. It noted that despite the country's deteriorating fiscal situation, substantial state funds and resources were expended on overseas investor forums and project inauguration ceremonies.

The report highlighted that despite pledges to establish and commence operations of the Development Bank, it had already incurred expenditures of MVR 6.56 million by the end of March last year, even though its services had yet to be launched.

Furthermore, it was noted that the Minister has obstructed accountability to the People’s Majlis. Specifically, it was highlighted that upon appearing before the parliament, the Minister avoids answering members' inquiries directly, opting instead to engage in irrelevant political rhetoric. The motion also alleges that the Minister has failed to protect private enterprises. It further states that the closure of business centers intended to serve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has hindered the sector's growth, and that the operations of the previously successful SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) have stalled due to the Minister's negligence.

Regarding the matter, the MDP further stated that while one of the primary objectives of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act is to diversify the economy and reduce its heavy reliance on tourism, the current administration has amended the law in a manner detrimental to the state. The party alleged that the introduction of "townships" effectively cedes control of certain areas of the Maldives to foreign entities, granting them extensive concessions that undermine national sovereignty. The resolution noted that such measures could lead to the loss of Maldivian territory and potentially deprive the state of significant essential revenue.

Finally, the party highlighted that despite the Minister announcing several mega-projects on various occasions—claiming they would transform the nation's economic landscape—most of these initiatives have come to a standstill. In this regard, the party specifically pointed to the bunkering services, the Development Bank of Maldives, and the Maldives International Financial Center as key examples of stalled projects.

Consequently, citing a complete loss of confidence in the Minister’s ability to fulfill his duties, the MDP has submitted a no-confidence motion against Minister Saeed. The motion was filed under Article 101(a) of the Constitution and Article 229(a) of the Standing Orders of the People’s Majlis.