Expelled MPs left PPM months ago, says opposition
The opposition coalition disputed the expulsion of three lawmakers from the ruling party, a move that could unseat the MPs due to a Supreme Court anti-defection ruling and trigger by-elections in three more constituencies.
31 Oct 2017, 9:00 AM
The opposition coalition has disputed the expulsion of three lawmakers from the ruling party, a move that could unseat the MPs due to a Supreme Court anti-defection ruling.
The ethics committee of the Progressive Party of Maldives reportedly decided on Saturday to expel MPs Mohamed Musthafa, Saudhulla Hilmy and Ali Shah for defaming the government and breaching parliamentary group whip-lines.
But the joint opposition parties insisted in a statement Monday that the three lawmakers were no longer PPM members. “So there is no way that members who have left the party could be expelled again by the ethics committee,” the coalition contended.
The expulsion could trigger by-elections once the PPM asks the Elections Commission to remove the MPs from the party’s registry.
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