Mr. Maseeh's "No confidence" & the Possibilities

Mr. Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, the Speaker of the 18th Parliament of Maldives

Motion to take a no confidence vote against Speaker Mr. Abdulla Maseeh was submitted to the parliament last Wednesday with 26 signatures, posing the first challenge to President Mr. Abdulla Yameen’s majority in parliament. It was submitted by MP for Dhiggaru constituency  Mr. Ahmed Faaris Maumoon  who is the son of the Former President Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom & the nephew of current Mr. President Abdulla Yameen. 

According to parliament’s regulations the session to take a vote of no confidence against the speaker of parliament should be scheduled in the session after 10 working days of the submission of the motion. The constitution requires a 14-day notice before voting on the motion. With 84 MPs present and voting, 43 votes will be needed to pass the motion. Speaker Mr. Maseeh cannot participate in the vote or preside over the debate. The President Mr. Yameen's faction of the PPM ostensibly controls 45 seats along with coalition partner MDA’s 5 seats. The MDP has 21 MPs and JP has 7. MP Anara Naeem is the sole Adhaalath Party lawmaker. A majority of votes in favor by the members present on that day’s sitting is required to pass a motion of no confidence against the current speaker meanwhile government had expressed confidence of defeating the motion which requires the parliament majority.

The session to take no confidence vote against the speaker of the parliament has been scheduled for 27th March & President Mr. Yameen has requested all lawmakers of the ruling PPM to refrain from travelling outside of capital Male City 3 days prior to the debate. The motion to dismiss the speaker can only be passed if most the members present during the session votes for the motion. Speaker Mr. Maseeh who became the elected Speaker on 28th May 2014 will have the full right to take part and defend himself in the debate, however if this motion passes Mr. Maseeh will be forced to resign as the Speaker of the 18^th Parliament of Maldives.