VP: Justifications to deny cabinet approval lack any merit

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef says that the justifications being given by opposition lawmakers to deny approval to some of the members of the new cabinet lack any merit.

In a post on X on Sunday morning, Hussain, who had resigned from the Parliament to take oath of office as the country’s vice president in November 2023, described granting parliamentary approval for ministers appointed by the president as a basic democratic principle.

“I do not believe the justification being given by some of the parties against this has any merit,” he said.

ޑިމޮކްރެސީގެ އެންމެ ރިވެތި ހަމައަކީ ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ އިޚްތިޔާރުކުރައްވާ ވަޒީރުންނަށް ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުން ރުހުން ދެއްވުން. މިކަމާ ދެކޮޅަށް ބައެއް ޕާޓީތަކުން ދައްކަވާ ހުއްޖަތްތަކަކީ އެއްވެސް އަސާސެއް ނެތް ކަމެއް ކަމަށް ގަބޫލުކުރަން.

— Hussain Mohamed Latheef (@HucenSembe) January 28, 2024

The remarks come with the Parliament set to take to take its vote on the 22-member cabinet on Sunday. During the morning session, lawmakers from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats suggested they will not approve some of the ministers.

The debate got heated, with Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, whose party is aligned with the ruling coalition, criticizing the MDP and Democrats, accusing them of trying to ruin the country.

Qasim said that he has been informed they plan on denying approval to three ministers; Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed and Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer.

Back in early January, VP Hussain had criticized the Parliament for going into recess without approving the cabinet.

He alleged that approval for the cabinet was being deliberately withheld to disrupt the constitutional system, and accused lawmakers of ruining the Parliament’s reputation.