Some MPs have said that preparations are underway to impeach President Abdulla Yameen, who was defeated by a large margin in the recent election.

RaajjeMV understands that some lawmakers, who began work to impeach the outgoing president on Tuesday, are to officially begin the impeachment motion on Wednesday after getting the mandatory signatures.

The MPs told RaajjeMV that it will be submitted to the Parliament floor within the next two days.

Those carrying out the impeachment motion are the 12 lawmakers who were dismissed from parliament by the Elections Commission in 2017. The 12 MPs on the grounds of floor-crossing. These MPs have recently been re-seated by the Supreme Court.

The lawmakers told RaajjeMV that one third of the MPs are in favor of submitting the motion and that hopes are high that President Yameen will be impeached president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's inauguration on November 17.

Some members in the opposition coalition's Parliamentary Group’s Whatsapp group had asserted that the impeachment motion against the outgoing president must be submitted without further delay, and that a majority of the members support this decision.

On WhatsApp, North-Thinadhoo constituency MP Saudhulla Hilmy called for President Yameen's impeachment and was backed by Thimarafushi constituency MP Mohamed Mustafa, who said that it must be submitted, even if there is “just one day” left in the outgoing president’s term.

Also in the conversation, MP for Hanimaadhoo constituency Hussain Shahudhee and MP for south-Thinadhoo constituency Abdulla Ahmed said that President Yameen’s impeachment must be carried out “right now”. Afterwards, North-Kulhudhuffushi constituency MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa and Dhihdhoo constituency MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed also gave their support.

According to the Maldives constitution, article 100 (b) the incumbent President may be removed from office only after a resolution is submitted to the Parliament with the backing of at least one third of the members. Under this regulation, 57 signatures out of the 85 sitting Members of Parliament, are needed to impeach the President. It also states that a resolution to remove the President may only be passed if it receives the votes of a two-thirds majority of the total membership of Parliament.

There are currently 45 opposition-aligned lawmakers, and 40 in the ruling coalition, which consists of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), with the inclusion of Speaker Abdulla Maseeh.

Some opposition MPs have said that the submission of the impeachment motion will not be a difficult task.

According to the constitution, the President or Vice President may also be removed from office if there is a direct violation of a tenet of Islam, the constitution or law, serious misconduct, unsuited to the office of the President or Vice President, or for inability to perform the responsibilities of office.

After the Parliament passes the motion to impeach the President, the Supreme Court will then give the final verdict.

RaajjeMV understands that a number of ruling PPM-aligned lawmakers are also willing to back the motion to impeach President Yameen.