Fourth no-confidence motion filed against Parliament Speaker Maseeh

Parliamentarians have on Wednesday filed a fourth motion of no-confidence against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh, a staunch pro-government MP.

The petition was submitted with 51 signatures to the 85-member People’s Majlis, although only 76 parliamentarians can paritcipate in Wednesday's sitting. Previous motions against Maseeh has been voted out under contentious circumstances.

While voting was carried out by hand for one of said motions, claiming a problem with the voting systems on the parliament, multiple parliamentarians were disqualified ahead of voting for another.

Joint Opposition lawmakers on Wednesday told journalists outside the parliament premises that they will continue sitting for the rest of the term ‘without Maseeh’ and that president-elect Ibrahim Solih will be sworn in in front of a new parliament speaker.

While the motion proceeds, a credible source from within the ranks of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives has said that Maseeh is to resign from his position. Maseeh was reportedly informed of the motion and advised him to concede, although the parliament speaker has not responded to RaajjeMV’s attempts to acquire a comment from him.