No-confidence motion may target more than Speaker Maseeh

President Abdulla Yameen has commented on the no-confidence motion filed against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh, suggesting that it may not be solely targeted towards him.

This maiden public insight into one of President Yameen’s comments on the motion came on Monday night, when he asked lawmakers aligned with his Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in the party’s group conversation on instant messaging application, Viber, to not leave the country or city before the vote.

“Dear MPs, please refrain from travel so that you are in Malé in the three days ahead of the Speaker’s vote, do not think that this is just a vote against Maseeh” President Yameen posted through his Viber account, ‘Y13’.

The message was leaked along with PPM parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan’s acknowledgement of the President’s comment. Nihan had previously said that PPM MPs would ‘defeat’ the motion against Maseeh.

The leaked screencapture of President Yameen's message, in *Dhivehi*, as it was sent.

The no-confidence motion was filed last Wednesday, with 26 signatures from MPs aligned with every political party, including the PPM, and an independent member.

While members of the ruling PPM had separated into two factions – one following President Yameen and the other remaining loyal to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – Monday night’s leaked screenshot of the party group is indicative of ongoing discord within the factions as well.

The six-point motion accuses Maseeh of ‘refusing to ensure’ equality in parliament, disregarding the rule of law, disrespecting the system of checks and balances, disregard for procedure, and ‘subverting’ democracy.

Gayoom’s son, MP Faris Maumoon, who is spearheading the motion said on Monday, after an Anti-Corruption Commission summoning hi, that lawmakers backing the motion have faced pressure to cease support for Maseeh’s ousting. He had assured his personal unyielding commitment to it.

Maumoon also appeared on Raajje Television on Saturday night to speak about the motion, and he called on both ‘businesses and the citizens’ to lend their support to his efforts.

“The future of the nation now rests with in the hands of us members of parliament” he added.