Lawmakers deny media reports claiming MP Riyaz is the joint PG leader

Some lawmakers have denied media reports that MP Abdulla Riyaz has been appointed as the joint Parliamentary Group (PG) leader of the government coalition.

After Jumhooree Party (JP) received the position of parliament’s minority party, the media reported that JP’s PG leader Riyaz also received the position of joint PG leader of the coalition.

Some lawmakers of the government coalition said that there has not been a joint PG meeting since the number of JP’s MPs exceeded that of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Currently, the joint PG leader of the coalition is MDP’s PG leader Mohamed Aslam with Riyaz as the deputy.

Last week, Aslam said that they are formulating policies on running the joint PG and a reliable source said that a joint PG leader might be elected through a vote from the MPs.

Previously, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had been the joint PG leader as well as the PG leader of MDP.