Will call for opposition response to presidential address once opposition leader is confirmed: Nasheed

Speaker of Parliament, former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that he will call on for a response to the presidential address from the opposition after clarifying which parliament member is the opposition leader.

Nasheed said this while speaking at the parliament’s first sitting of the year held on Monday morning where President Solih had delivered the presidential address.

Noting that members of the opposition continued to protest on the parliament floor, Nasheed stated that these actions donot fit within the regulations of the parliament.

Nasheed explained that the parliament's rules allow the opposition to prepare and respond to the presidential address within fourteen days during another parliament sitting. This response must be delivered by the opposition leader, said Nasheed, adding that he will call on for a response once he clarifies which member is the opposition leader.

Nevertheless, Nasheed also stated that he believes the protest is in fact the oppositions official response.

While opposition members continue to protest for the release of their jailed leader, former president Yameen, Nasheed highlighted that the President recognised the parliament's efforts to hold the state accountable in his presidential address, adding that the President's statement includes the opposition members as well.

Currently, the 19th parliament consists of 65 members from the main ruling party- Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), five members of Jumhoree party, five members from PPM as well as three members from PNC and 2 members from MDA.