The Parliament has set dates for vote on no-confidence motions filed against Vice-Speaker Eva Abdulla, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. These motions have sparked anticipation and heightened political tensions in the nation, as parliamentary procedures have been set for the voting sessions.
After Vice-Speaker Eva Abdulla resigned from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) along with loyalists of former President and Speaker Mohamed Nasheed to form a new political party challenging President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the upcoming presidential election, the MDP parliamentary group took immediate action to remove Eva from her post. The scheduled no-confidence motion against her is currently pending parliamentary approval and is set to be held on the 11th of next month.
In addition, opposition MPs have pressed ahead with no-confidence motions against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. They are accused of neglecting national interests in a recent case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The parliamentary agenda has set the no-confidence motion against Riffath for Wednesday next week, while the motion against Shahid is scheduled to be heard on the 6th of next month.
To successfully pass a no-confidence motion, a simple majority of votes is required. With a total of 87 members in Parliament, at least 43 votes are needed for the motions to be successful, assuming all members are present during the voting session.
Political observers and insiders have been closely monitoring the evolving situation, expressing divergent views on the expected outcome. While many anticipate Vice-Speaker Eva Abdulla’s removal from her post due to her recent political affiliations and the MDP’s move against her, opinions are divided regarding the fate of Riffath and Shahid. Some believe the opposition may fall short of the necessary majority to pass the no-confidence motions against the Attorney General and Foreign Minister, thus allowing them to retain their positions.
The vote on the no-confidence motions is expected to be closely monitored by both domestic and international observers, as it holds significant implications for the future political landscape, potentially redefining alliances and power structures ahead of the highly anticipated presidential election.
