MDP questions legality of move after 3 ministers re-appointed

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) says they are seeking counsel to ascertain the legality of the reappointment of three cabinet ministers who were rejected by the Parliament.

On Monday, the Parliament denied approval to three members of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet, including the attorney general. But they were re-appointed to the cabinet within hours of the vote.

Ali Niyaz, a top MDP official and incumbent Hulhumale’ MP, told Sun on Tuesday morning that the reappointment of the three ministers was open to a huge legal debate.

Niyaz said the party is therefore seeking legal counsel to determine whether the president is authorized to make such a decision, and also to decide the MDP’s next move.

“Our stand is clear. They do not have our approval. This stand hasn’t changed,” he said.

Niyaz said that whether ministers who the Parliament denied approval to can be reappointed to the same posts also poses a legal question.

He said that the MDP was seeking legal counsel and discussing its next steps.

The Parliament took the long-delayed cabinet approval vote on Monday afternoon.

While 19 out of the 22 members of the cabinet passed the vote, three were rejected. They are:

• Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed
• Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed
• Attorney General Ahmed Usham

The MDP – which holds a majority in the Parliament - had passed a three-line red whip the day before to reject the three ministers, as well as Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed. Saeed narrowly survived the vote on Monday.

But within hours of the vote, Usham, Haidar and Shaheem were reappointed to the cabinet, and took their oath before Justice Husnu Al Suood.