No-confidence motion against Maseeh

Qasim: Fully support MP Faris' motion. It is imperative that we remove Maseeh, in order to liberate the powers of the State from the Government.

MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain has put forward a motion to initiate a roll call for the vote on Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh.

Nihan: motion proposed by MPs who cannot accept the progress

MP Maseeh: The responsiblity of holding the Govenrment accountable falls on individual Committees. Fifty-two Cabinet Members brought in to Parliament, Ministers summoned to Committeees.

MP Abdullah Maseeh says the allegations made against him are baseless, devoid of facts. He adds that he had always worked well within the legal means and limits.

MP Faris: Parliament not run justly. No opportunity granted to question. Maseeh has allowed his political agenda to cloud his role as Speaker. He has failed to protect the rights of MPs, actively barring them from fulfilling their duties. Due to this, the rights of citizens have been severely impacted, that's why this motion was filed.

MP Ahmed Nihan's tweet reads as follows: "Parliament Speaker Maseeh has arrived at the Parliament floor to respond to the allegations #YesToMaseeh"

MP Ali Nizar's tweet reads as "Public should be able to attend Parliament session under the set procedures. This is the Parliament of the people"

Access has been denied for all, including media, to attend the session for the vote on Speaker.

MP Mariya Didi's tweet reads as follows:

"There will be a moment in democracy, when Parties work in unison. This is the time for unity,"

Adhaalath Party Leader Sheikh Imran Abdullah has stated that MPs have to vote in favor of the motion, to free themselves from the shackles, adding that if they failed to do this, then the public will never forgive them for it.

The statement was announced by Adhaalath Party Council Member Shidhatha Shareef. Sheikh Imran said that this was a critical time in the nation, adding that the threat from within was great.

Imran defined the incumbent Government as an unjust one, cruel and such a Government will cause loss of freedom.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom says the motion to oust Speaker Abdullah Maseeh is a golden opportunity for reform in the nation.

Speaking to RaajjeTV's "Sun Gadi" program, via phone from India, he said the Speaker had to be removed from his position, as he had failed to uphold his mandate and responsibilities as Speaker.

He added that he had confidence the motion will be passed successfully, with 90 percent of PPM had backed the motion. However, Maumoon said the MPs who voted in line with the Government were influenced to do so.

Maumoon, one of the strongest political influencers in the nation, last night publicly announced that he will not back any MP who will vote to keep Maseeh in as the Speaker. This is quite significant, given that almost all MPs from PPM were voted in with Maumoon's support.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom late Sunday night posted that he will not stop the work carried out for the rights of the public, adding that this was the reason why he attracts much hate from the public.

Parliamentary Groups of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) had issued a three-line whip on the no confidence vote on Speaker Abdullah Maseeh. The whip was issued in a meeting held Sunday night. The whip comes at a time when some MPs from ruling PPM had declared their support for the no-confidence motion.

MP Jameel Usman's tweet translates as: "PPM, MDA Joint PG issued a three-line whip for Maseeh. With the will of God, #YesMaseeh

Maldives Police Service (MPS) and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) held a press conference Sunday night, stating that a group was trying to create chaos and upend the political environment in the country.

Public has expressed concern over the statement, calling it a political one, designed to create fear in public.

On Sunday, President Yameen's faction of PPM voted to remove MP Ibrahim Waheed from the party.

Party leader, former President Maumoon called his dismissal "illegal and invalid."

Not long after, the faction, at a council meeting, voted to remove President Maumoon, the party's founder.

Maumoon dismissed the faction of the party’s attempt to remove him from the party, saying it “has not legal standing and cannot dismiss members from PPM”. 

On Sunday night, President Nasheed, in an interview to RaajjeTV, said that Maseeh's no-confidence vote is just the beginning and that they will be submitting motions on cabinet ministers next.

“I believe that we will take the lead in this vote. Members of our parliamentary group have been working tirelessly. They are talking to other parliamentarians as well. From what we know, we will take a huge lead in the vote,” the former President said without revealing much.

At 10:25 pm, Maduvvari MP, Mohamed Ameeth revealed that he will vote 'no' for Maseeh, and called on other MPs to do the same. Maumoon welcomed Ameeth and praised his courage.

Later in the night, President Maumoon gave an interview to RaajjeTV's 'Sungadi', where he said that he remains a member of PPM, and its elected leader. Noting that there are certain ways in which the party leader can be removed, he said this does not fall under any. 

He further noted that Faris has been summoned to police numerous time 'over a case from 10 years ago'.

President Maumoon called on MPs to vote 'no' for Maseeh.

On Saturday, parliamentary group of PPM and its coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) held a press conference, with 41 members including speaker Maseeh, to show support for him and President Yameen's government.

At the press conference, the MPs assured support for Maseeh, who was not given the opportunity to speak.

At the press conference, Inguraidhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Falaah spoke of plans to remove President Maumoon as party leader, while MDA leader, businessman and MP for Meedhoo constituency Ahmed 'Sun' Siyam said that the opposition will fail.

However, Faris Maumoon, who was summoned to the police five times in three days, said that the intimidation was proof that they will win the vote. He made the statement on Friday.

At a rally on Friday, MDP Deputy Chairperson Ali Niyaz said that the reform movement will continue even after the no confidence motion vote on Monday.

Jumhooree Party (JP) joined the opposition movement last week, and its leader Qasim Ibrahim has since been a strong vocal critic of the government.

He had joined the opposition briefly in 2015, but had defected back after authorities started threatening his businesses.

Not long after Qasim joined the opposition, Court cases against his companies were reconvened and rushed. However, Qasim has maintained his stance, and has said that he will not support the government again, "even if they hand me upside down, chop me up and feed me to the crows".

On Friday, leader of the four opposition parties- MDP's Nasheed, PPM's Maumoon, JP's Qasim and Adhaalath Party's Sheikh Imran Abdulla- signed a coalition agreement, ‘to work jointly and together both in parliament and in the political environment'.

• Maumoon tweet translation: I signed this agreement with the sincere intention of reforming the country, with God’s will.

Led by Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, he was summoned to the Anti-Corruption Commission on March 14.

He described the summoning as "politically motivated harassment".

His father's successor and leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) praised Faris's strength.

Former President Maumoon called on his son to be "strong" adding that "the manipulation of state institutions to harass and intimidate MPs must be stopped".

The no-confidence motion was filed with 26 signatures from lawmakers aligned with every party and an independent member.

It was welcomed by former Presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and President Mohamed Nasheed, leaders of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), respectively.

A no-confidence motion against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed was submitted on March 8, with the signatures of 26 opposition lawmakers. The motion is spearheaded by Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon

The six-point motion accuses Maseeh of ‘refusing to ensure’ equality in parliament, disregarding the rule of law, disrespecting the system of checks and balances, disregard for procedure, and ‘subverting’ democracy.