Maldives Opposition set to file impeachment motion against President Muizzu: Report

According to local media on Monday, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which is in the majority in the Parliament, has garnered enough signatures to file a resolution to remove President Mohamed Muizzu from office. One of the MDP members informed SunOnline that the party has amassed enough signatures for an impeachment resolution in collaboration with the other opposition party, The Democrats. The Maldivian President may only be removed by a resolution proposed by one-third of Majlis members, along with a justification, as per the Maldivian Constitution. After then, two thirds of the Majlis’ entire membership must approve the resolution. The opposing parties haven’t yet turned in the motion, though. This comes a day after pro-government MPs and opposition parliamentarians clashed in the Maldives’ Parliament over the ratification of four members of pro-China President Muizzu’s Cabinet. A video of the brawl is circulating on the internet.

Maldives Parliament witnesses ruckus. Govt MP Shaheem gets a beating, as fellow MPs intervene to stop it. https://t.co/yzV2AHLVo1 pic.twitter.com/Bt4HNvyq6E

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 28, 2024

Brawl in Parliament Prior to the cabinet vote on Sunday, the major opposition MDP made the decision to withhold legislative approval for four members of the President’s cabinet. The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives and parliamentarians connected to the People’s National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition have disrupted parliament sessions as a result of the opposition MDP and The Democrats’ parliamentary group’s decision to not approve certain members of President Muizzu’s cabinet. The MDP, which holds a majority in parliament, has chosen not to cast a vote in favour of Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Ministers Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed of Islamic Affairs, Ali Haidar of Housing, Land, and Urban Development, and Mohamed Saeed of Economic Development and Trade. According to the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), blocking President Muizzu’s cabinet from receiving legislative approval would be equivalent to hindering the public services provided by the government. No-confidence resolutions against Speaker Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem of the Parliament have been submitted by the ruling PPM-PNC coalition, according to a report on the Sun.mv news website. The impending cabinet approval is the reason behind the no-confidence move. The coalition has accused Speaker Aslam of abusing his official position to further the interests of a specific party. After obtaining the presidency of the Maldives in November, Muizzu, a pro-China politician, publicly urged India to withdraw its armed soldiers from his nation, claiming that the Maldivian people had given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi. He also strengthened Maldives’ connections with China.