Nasheed warns he cannot be kicked out as Speaker

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed warned the party’s parliamentary group on Tuesday that he cannot be kicked out as Speaker, no matter how much “some” may want to.

The rift within MDP had widened following Nasheed’s defeat in the MDP presidential primary back in January. While Nasheed continues to maintain membership at MDP, a party he founded in 2003, a dozen MPs loyal to Nasheed left the party last week, and have applied to form a new political party – The Democrats.

A no-confidence motion was submitted to the Parliament earlier Tuesday against Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla – Nasheed’s cousin and one of the 12 MPs to left MDP on May 17.

The submission of the motion led to heated exchanges within a Whatsapp group of MDP MPs.

Referring to Hulhumale’ MP Ali Niyaz (Niya), Nasheed alleged that “some six MPs” were forcing decisions from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih through coercion.

He expressed displeasure over the actions of the MDP parliamentary group.

Niya responded that know one knows better than Nasheed himself that he cannot be coerced.

“I follow the majority. I am the true democrat here,” he said.

Nasheed responded that he will be the closest to Niya when President Solih’s administration falls.

More MPs joined in on the heated exchange.

Pro-government MPs criticized Nasheed, and said that both Eva and Nasheed must be dismissed.

Nasheed responded that he cannot be kicked out as Speaker.

“[Alifushi MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain] Bigey, Niya, and [North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed] Aslam think deep. You cannot dismiss me,” he said.

Pro-government MPs said that no matter how much it may displease Nasheed, they had gathered enough signatures for a no-confidence motion against Eva, and would dismiss him too, if he leaves MDP.