No-confidence motion against Nasheed postponed after Eva calls in sick

The no-confidence motion against the Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, was scheduled for today, but the sitting was canceled due to Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla being absent.

According to the rules of Parliament, the Deputy Speaker should preside over the no-confidence motion against the Speaker. The rules of the Parliament do not specify what will happen next in the absence of the Deputy Speaker.

However, the rules of the Parliament state that if anything happens that is not in one of the rules, the rules of other countries that use the presidential system will be followed.

MDP members, who presented the no-confidence motion, as well as some members of The Democrats, to which Nasheed and his sister Eva belong were present in today's sitting.

Addressing the members, the Secretary-General said that Eva was ill and had called in sick at 6:27 am today.

“I am telling honourable Members that the resolution impeaching the Speaker of Parliament is to be moved in the next official sitting after the deadline stipulated in Rule 205 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament and the Deputy Speaker will be asked to preside over the sitting," Secretary General said.

First, MDP filed a no-confidence motion against Nasheed and Eva when they left the party. But, that time, as two motions were moved simultaneously the whole Parliament came to a halt. Therefore, MDP withdrew the motion to seek the approval of Nasheed's supporters during the last presidential election campaign.

But, after Nasheed’s The Democrats did not support MDP in the second round, MDP again filed a no-confidence motion against him.

There are currently 56 MDP Members in Parliament. A no-confidence motion against the Speaker of Parliament requires 43 votes.

The latest no-confidence motion was signed by 49 members.