Speaker urges MPs to allow for debate, despite difference of opinion

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday urged parliamentarians against interrupting each other during parliamentary debates, despite difference of opinion.

Before calling for a vote on an emergency motion submitted by PNC deputy leader, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar during the parliamentary sitting on Tuesday morning, Nasheed commented that motions submitted to the Parliament would be treated to the full extent of the Constitution.

He said that it was vital to upholding principles of democracy.

“With the hope of upholding the principles of democracy, and allowing the opportunity for difference of opinion and room for debate to the full extent,” he said.

Nasheed said that though some parliamentarians may believe that halting a debate may be the best to protect the opinion they hold, it was important to engage in debate and clarify issues to the people.

 Nasheed made the comment after MDP parliamentarians took multiple points of order to interrupt opposition parliamentarians, denying them the opportunity to engage in debate.