29 to dismiss President, 42 to remove Speaker – where’s the logic?: President Maumoon
42 MPs need to sign for Speaker impeachment motion
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has criticized the Parliament for amending the Parliament procedures, which now calls for signatures of 42 MPs instead of 15 MPs.
In a tweet posted Tuesday, President Maumoon said that there was no logic to the Parliament procedures, citing that 29 signatures were needed for impeachment of a sitting President, while 42 signatures were needed for impeaching a Speaker.
Parliament’s general purpose committee had on Sunday passed that no-confidence motions against speakers and deputy speaker can only be submitted with the signatures of 42 lawmakers. A committee meeting was held on Sunday evening, hours after opposition lawmakers resubmitted a no-confidence motion against speaker Abdulla Maseeh with 31 signatures. Monday’s passing of the amendments also cancels the vote against MP Moosa Manik, the deputy speaker, submitted with 15 signatures.
The former President is strongly critical of the current Government, policies and Parliament procedures.He said the Parliament procedures were amended illegally, and therefore null from the start
