Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla has said that, regardless of the vote in parliament, the state of emergency will be extended if President Abdulla Yameen wants it to.

In a news conference held by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), MP Abdulla said that the parliament’s vote on extending the state of emergency will not obstruct the work of the government or President Yameen.

He said that if the motion fails to pass, President Yameen still has the power to extend the state of emergency, and warned the opposition not to rely on the parliament vote.

President Yameen’s proposal to extend the state of emergency has been approved by the parliament’s committee on national security, and will soon be voted on by MPs.