In a significant political development, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats, in collaboration, have gathered enough support to submit an impeachment motion against President Mohamed Muizzu. This decision comes in the wake of recent diplomatic conflicts with ally nations, particularly Bharat. The MDP parliamentary group, now in control of the parliament, aims to hold President Muizzu accountable for jeopardizing relations with Bharat.
Chaos ensued within the Maldivian parliament as ruling party members attempted to obstruct the no-confidence motion. Videos obtained depicted the tumultuous scenes during the parliamentary session, highlighting the intensity of the political standoff.
#WATCH | Dramatic visuals from Maldives Parliament as opposition MPs are prevented from entering Parliament floor ahead of Parliamentary approval of Muizzu's Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/mVc6TT1yp4
— WION (@WIONews) January 28, 2024
A key motive behind the impeachment motion is the alleged compromise of diplomatic ties with India by the current government. MDP leaders emphasized this point, underscoring the dissatisfaction with President Muizzu’s handling of foreign relations.
Crucially, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s MDP commands a majority in the parliament, leaving the ruling combine, consisting of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and President Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC), without sufficient parliamentary support. The MDP’s strategic move was made possible by last year’s revision of parliament regulations, granting them the authority to impeach President Muizzu without relying on backing from minority parties.
With the recent amendment, an impeachment now requires 54 votes, and the MDP currently holds 56 seats in the parliament. The revision has also reduced the number of members required on the impeachment committee to seven, without the necessity of including representatives from all parties in the parliament.
The impeachment initiative follows just 24 hours after videos depicting clashes inside the Maldivian Parliament circulated on social media. The footage, exclusively obtained by WION, captured a fierce altercation between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers. Tensions escalated after the MDP announced their decision not to approve several key appointments, leading to disruptions by the ruling PPM-PNC members who argued that such denials hindered the government’s ability to serve its citizens.
As the political turmoil unfolds in the Maldives, the nation watches closely to see how the impeachment process against President Muizzu will progress and what implications it might have on the country’s political landscape and international relations.
Comments