Speaker expresses "full confidence" in foreign minister

While a no-confidence motion against Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid is to be submitted to the People’s Majlis, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has expressed confidence in the country’s top foreign diplomat.

In a leaked audio, Kaashidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Jabir is heard speaking about the “various work” being carried out to submit the motion against the foreign minister. He also is heard saying that it will be done this coming Monday.

He also says that 11 parliamentarians have already signed the no-confidence petition; Article 101 (a) of the Maldivian Constitution states that “a motion expressing want of confidence in a member of the Cabinet may be moved in the People’s Majlis, under the hand of at least ten members, specifying the reasons”, clause (b) states that the ministers in question must be provided a 14-day period to respond. A majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis is required for a motion to pass.

Jabir, who took over as leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), said that the work to dismiss Shahid does not involve the opposition.

Shortly after, Speaker and former President, Mohamed Nasheed via Twitter said that he has “full confidence” in the foreign minister.

While Nasheed said this, he is to have recently attempted to submit a no-confidence petition against Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail. RaajjeMV understands that he was able to collect 25 signatures for Fayyaz’s dismissal.

While the 19th parliament has yet to dismiss a cabinet member through a vote, two have resigned since being appointed in November 2018 while one, former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, was fired by the president over sexual abuse allegations back in July.