President Abdulla Yameen’s faction of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said that it will carry out the work necessary to remove former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as party leader.

MP for Inguraidhoo constituency, Ibrahim Falah made the statement while speaking at a press conference held by PPM and its coalition partner, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) regarding the upcoming no-confidence vote against parliament speaker, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

MP Falah said that the reason that President Maumoon remained as party leader “is because of the immense support” President Yameen has for him. President Yameen is the half-brother of Maumoon, who ruled the country for 30 years. The brothers have been in a dispute over party leadership since June 2016.

Falah added that if the parliamentary group wished to do so, President Maumoon “will not remain as party leader”.

He said that opposition will not be able to garner even 13 votes to impeach the Speaker.

Falaah also criticized Maamigilli constituency MP and Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, saying that he “works to fulfill his needs.”

“Qasim’s ways are well known to PPM. He can be turned tomorrow,” said Falaah.

41 members took part in the conference held on Saturday afternoon, where all assured their commitment to President Yameen, and criticized the opposition.

MP for Ungoofaaru constituency, Jaufar Dawood said that members from the parliamentary group can only vote against Maseeh after “cutting off their fingers,” while MDA leader, Meedhoo MP Ahmed ‘Sun’ Siyam said that the opposition “will fail” in their work.

In addition to Qasim, members also criticized Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, son of Maumoon.

MP for Kendhikulhudhoo constituency and deputy leader of MDA, Ali Mauroof reminded Qasim and Faris that they are “acting against the wishes” of their constituents, adding that “they are unable to go there, the people are that outraged”.

He claimed that “more members of the opposition will join us on the 27th”.

The no-confidence motion against Maseeh, submitted on March 7, is tabled for March 27.

On Friday night, opposition leaders signed an agreement ‘work jointly and together both in parliament and in the political environment'.