Parliament sitting paused to clear out protesting MDP lawmakers

The Parliament sitting on Tuesday was paused to clear out lawmakers from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who were asked to leave for protesting inside the chambers and disrupting the session.

On the agenda for Tuesday was the debate on constitutional amendments proposed by the government to hold future presidential elections and parliamentary elections on the same day.

The bill, sponsored by ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah, was passed as is in a brief five-minute meeting on Monday with a majority vote of the Independent Institutions Committee.

The proposed changes have been described by the MDP as an attempt to lengthen the PNC’ rule.

As soon as Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla opened the floor for the debate, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir left his seat and walked towards the presidency holding the Constitution.

The MDP lawmaker accused the Parliament’s presidency of flouting the Constitution.

Abdul Raheem insisted that the Parliament was following laws and regulations.

He repeatedly named Mauroof and asked him to go back to his seat, before calling security to forcibly remove the parliamentarian from the chamber.

The security rolled him out of the chamber in his chair, after he refused to get up and leave on his own accord.

Tensions erupted again when Abdul Raheem allowed Falah, who already made his statement during the debate, to speak for a second time.

Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad (Fittey), the deputy leader of MDP’s parliamentary group, interrupted Falah. He asked why Falah was given the opportunity to speak for a second time when he was still waiting for the chance to speak for the first time.

But Abdul Raheem said that the system shows Ziyad had cancelled his request to speak, and insisted that he was following the order shown in the system.

He asked Falah to continue.

Other MDP parliamentarians rose from their seats and joined in the protest.

“I say this on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament; I allowed him the opportunity in accordance with the Parliament’s standing orders. I gave him the opportunity in accordance with the order shown in the portal before me,” said Abdul Raheem.

In face of continued protests from MDP parliamentarians, Abdul Raheem first named Ziyad, and then South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem and Keyodhoo MP Mohamed Niushad. He also repeatedly asked South Hulhumale’ MP Dr. Ahmed Shamheed and Maavah MP Ahmed Shakir to respect the Parliament’s standing orders, but did not name them.

He then announced a brief pause in the sitting until Ziyad, Meekail and Niushad leave the chamber.

Under the current system, voters go to polls twice within around six months every five years, electing the president in September and members of Parliament in April.

Falah’s bill proposes merging the two elections, and bringing forward the start of the parliamentary term from May to December 1 to get this done.

This change will shorten the five-year term of the current parliamentary assembly, sworn in on May 28, 2024, by around six months.

The first combined poll would take place in 2028.

With the PNC holding a supermajority in the Parliament, the bill is expected to pass with little resistance.

However, merging the two elections will still require a public referendum.

PNC is pushing to have the referendum held on the same day as the Local Council Election – which is scheduled for April 4.

Elections Commission (EC)’s chairman Mohamed Zahid said the constitutional amendments must be in force by February 18 in order for that to be possible.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu first announced plans introduce constitutional amendments to combine the two major elections back in 2024. He promoted it as a cost-cutting measure that will save around MVR 120 million in expenses.

However, the opposition is largely opposed to such a move. While former President Mohamed Nasheed has said he is in favor of combining the two elections, others within the main opposition MDP, including former chairperson Fayyaz Ismail and former Maldivian Vice President Faisal Naseem, as well as former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who leads the People’s National Front (PNF), have publicly expressed opposition to the move.