MDP claims MPs getting bribed; govt slams it as ‘blatant lie’

The President’s Office has denied the allegation made by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that the party’s parliamentarians are being offered bribes by the government to floor cross.

The allegation had come amid rumors at least a dozen parliamentarians from the main opposition MDP – who hold a majority in the Parliament – are about to leave the party for the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Several MDP parliamentarians will reportedly be signing with PNC during a major party rally scheduled to be held at Dharubaaruge on Thursday night, which President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is attending.

During a debate on an emergency parliamentary motion on Thursday, South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem - a parliamentarian from the MDP - warned that the Maldives was headed towards “dark” times.

He alleged that the government has begun “buying” parliamentarians.

“President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu began this dirty game in his very first month in office. The game of buying and selling parliamentarians. He has started this dirty game of putting this parliament on the path to ruin, and has also shown a partial picture of this,” he said.

Mohamed Shaheeb, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office, dismissed the bribery allegation as “a blatant lie.”

A top parliamentarian from the MDP told Sun that six of the party’s lawmakers have decided to sign with the PNC, and that there’s high chance they will do the signing during Thursday night’s rally.

Meanwhile, a source within the PNC said that 12 MDP parliamentarians were expected to switch over to the party.

However, the identity of these parliamentarians remains unconfirmed at this point.