Opposition stronger than ever, ready to pursue another motion: MP Solih

The opposition now has the backing of several pro-government parliamentarians and enough experience and strength to pursue another no-confidence motion against parliament speaker Abdullah Maseeh, said Ibrahim Solih, leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party's parliamentary group.

MP Solih, confident that the next motion would pass no matter what the ‘method of voting’ is, spoke to the press outside the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) building, after opposition partner Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s summon to police questioning.

“We are working to resubmit the motion, we will be ready for anything they try” MP Solih said.

He further said that the circumstances under which the motion failed earlier this week proved dwindling support for the government within its own parliamentary group.

Solih is referring to Monday’s vote, which ended with opposition MPs abstaining to vote following a controversial decision to resort to a roll call method of voting, without substantiating the status of the electronic voting system.

READ MORE: Maseeh survives no-confidence vote

The Foreign Ministry assured the international community, which raised concerns over the validity of the vote due to its clear violation of parliamentary procedure, that the vote was ‘free, fair, and transparent’.

READ MORE: Parliament faces international criticism over speaker vote