The People’s Majlis came to a halt today after the Speaker of the Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed decided to not preside over parliament sittings.
The no confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla is on the agenda for today’s session.
The Secretary General of the Parliament, Fathimath Niusha said that Nasheed was informed via a letter to chair today’s parliament sitting after scheduling Eva’s no confidence motion for the session.
However, Nasheed said he was reluctant to preside over until a decision is taken regarding the no-confidence motion against him, said Niusha.
Therefore, today’s parliament sitting cannot be conducted as there is no person to preside over today’s session, said Niusha.
According to the regulations of the Parliament, no further proceedings can be carried out in a session where a motion of no confidence against the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is on the agenda, without taking a decision on those motions first.
The Speaker has not appointed a specific member to preside over today’s session where the no-confidence motion against Eva is on the agenda, although the Speaker should have appointed the next member to preside if the Speaker and Deputy Speaker do not preside.
While the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament have been filed in Parliament, members have accused Nasheed and Eva for halting parliament sittings to ensure they remain in their positions.
