‘No change in plans’ despite fourth lawmaker’s defection, says Gayoom faction
Saudhullah Hilmy’s defection was prompted by the cancellation of lucrative government contracts and deals a blow to Gayoom’s plans to check Yameen’s hold on power through the parliament
24 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
A fourth lawmaker who backed Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the war for control of the ruling party has returned to President Abdulla Yameen’s fold, dealing a blow to the former president’s plans to check his half-brother’s hold on power through the parliament.
Saudhullah Hilmy, the Progressive Party of the Maldives’ MP for the Thinadhoo constituency, was part of an eight-member breakaway faction formed in October to rectify “evil laws” enacted by the ruling-party dominated parliament.
His defection, prompted by the cancellation of lucrative government contracts, closely follows that of Gayoom’s daughter former Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, and brings the rival parliamentary group’s numbers down to four.
Yameen continues to enjoy a comfortable parliamentary majority, regaining control of 50 seats in the 85-member house.
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