Nasheed: MDP displaying ‘ugly’ scenes

Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed criticized the main ruling MDP – a party he led until June – on Monday, saying that the party was displaying “ugly scenes” both in islands and at the Parliament itself.

The Parliament reconvened for its third session of the year on Monday morning. The item on the agenda was to change the composition of the Parliament’s permanent committees.

Opening the sitting, Nasheed said that the Parliament has not received letters from the MPs who signed with The Democrats – a new party he himself is a member of.

He asked the MPs to submit the letters, confirming the change of their parties.

Heated verbal exchanges followed.

Nasheed announced the names of three MPs, and asked them to leave the chamber; Dhaandhoo MP Yauqoob Abdulla, Kelaa MP Ibrahim Shareef, and North Thinadhoo MP Abdul Mughni.

The three MPs – all of whom belong to MDP - refused to leave the chamber, and continued to disrupt the sitting.

Nasheed criticized the party.

“This is a very deplorable scene before me. Clashes, riots, and assault is commonplace even when the party you honorable MPs belong to, visit islands. You, honorable MPs, are displaying the same scene at this Parliament,” he said.

“These are not scenes the people of Maldives want to see. Despite the constitutional right to engage in peaceful political activities, you are discarding that right and displaying a very ugly scene even in islands. You are displaying that same scene here at this Parliament.”

Nasheed was referring to clashes between supporters of MDP and PPM during the opposition candidate, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s campaign tour.