The ongoing disagreements among MPs on how to proceed with the no-confidence motion against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has taken a new turn as the Parliament scheduled the motion for tomorrow’s sitting. The decision comes after the Attorney General sent a letter to the Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, stating his intention to provide a detailed response to the motion during a parliament sitting.
The no-confidence motion, which sparked heated exchanges among parliament members, was originally scheduled for Wednesday’s sitting. However, the Attorney General chose not to appear in person and instead submitted his response in writing. This move has raised concerns regarding the continuity of the proceedings, with Speaker Nasheed proposing the Parliament to seek the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion to resolve the impasse. Speaking at Wednesday’s sitting, the Speaker noted the importance of seeking legal advice in order to avoid potential constitutional violations. He stated that “in these kinds of matters, I have to seek advice… I want the Supreme Court to decide on these kinds of legal issues.”
The disagreements between MPs regarding the procedure forced a temporary adjournment of Wednesday’s sitting. After a half-hour adjournment, the Speaker met with political party leaders in an attempt to resolve the matter. However, the discussions failed to yield a conclusive solution. While the majority Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) believes that the Attorney General has the constitutional right to respond in writing, other parties, excluding the MDP, insist that he should appear in person to address the allegations.
However, according to Article 95 of the Constitution, Parliament can only request the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion if a resolution passed by Parliament initiates the process. As a result, Nasheed’s proposal to seek legal advice from the Supreme Court was not immediately actionable.
