This is the first time that he has been given the opportunity to speak freely in parliament, says ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s deputy leader and Vilufushi constituency MP Riyaz Rasheed.

He said this during Wednesday’s parliament sitting, while presenting the motion to repeal the anti-defection law passed by the ruling party earlier this year.

At the sitting, MP Riyaz said that he “regrets” being involved in the work done to pass the law in the first place and added that the law is against the constitution.

He noted that a law that allows a party’s disciplinary committee to dismiss a lawmaker, which in turn unseats them, for an opinion shared on social media “is clearly in violation of the constitution”.

Furthermore, noting that members of the parliament must be able to work independently in the interest of the people and without any influence, Riyaz said that the parliament and independent institutions being under the state’s influence “is not acceptable”.

He also claimed that ministers have refused to answer his calls since the law was passed, even criticizing sitting President Abdulla Yameen over the matter.

As such, he said that despite the various development projects conducted by Yameen in the past five years, he lost September’s election due to various reasons.

The MP said that despite the various development projects done in the past five years, President Yameen lost September’s elections due to other regretful issues. He further blamed those advising the president.