Politics

Supreme Court anti-defection ruling: roundup of reactions

The four-party opposition alliance called the ruling “a deliberate and politically motivated attempt by President [Abdulla] Yameen” to thwart the upcoming no-confidence vote against Speaker Maseeh.

Government behind Nasheed’s verdict, Adeeb tells Supreme Court

Adeeb alleged that Nasheed was prosecuted because he was leading a political campaign to free former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim.

MPs will forfeit seat for leaving party, Supreme Court rules

MPs will lose their seats if they either switch parties, leave or is expelled after winning on a political party ticket.

PPM refuses to accept en masse resignation of lawmakers

Ten PPM lawmakers who submitted resignation letters after signing an opposition-led no-confidence motion against the speaker were told that they are under investigation by the party’s ethics committee.

Deputy Speaker ‘Reeko’ Moosa joins PPM

MP Rasheed caught in lie over forged signature

MP Ahmed Rasheed publicly confessed Tuesday to signing a no-confidence motion against the speaker of parliament despite previously alleging that his signature was forged.

PPM backs anti-defection ruling from Supreme Court

Nine MPs have left the Progressive Party of Maldives after the Attorney General sought the anti-defection ruling, dramatically shifting the balance of power in the 85-member house ahead of the July 24 no-confidence vote against the speaker.

Criminal court chief judge transferred to juvenile court

The transfers were made at the request of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Service Commission said in a statement issued late last night.

Court throws out bribery case against Gasim

The criminal court has thrown out charges raised against Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim over the alleged bribery of lawmakers after state prosecutors failed to show up at court.

Supreme Court asked to disqualify lawmakers who switch parties

Attorney General Mohamed Anil asked the Supreme Court to declare that an MP who leaves his party, joins another party or is expelled from his party will lose his seat.

Justice Areef appointed to judicial watchdog

President Abdulla Yameen has appointed Supreme Court Justice Abdulla Areef to the judicial watchdog body to replace Justice Ali Hameed Mohamed.

MP Abdulla Riyaz cleared of obstruction charge

A three-judge panel at the criminal court ruled Sunday morning that the police obtained evidence against the lawmaker in contravention of the parliamentary privileges law.

MP Shahudhy quits PPM

Shahudhy becomes the second lawmaker to leave the ruling party since the opposition alliance submitted the no-confidence motion against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed with 45 signatures from the 85-member house.

Minister Shainee gathers with 500 youth in show of ‘guts’ and strength

“Sadly some people think that we don’t have guts because we appear to be staying calm and quiet. We have guts,” Shainee told the president’s youth supporters.

Maldives withdraws candidacy for UN Human Rights Council

The permanent mission to the UN in Geneva said the Maldives deferred its candidacy for a later term “in the spirit of regional solidarity and in an effort towards achieving consensus within the Asia Pacific Group”.

‘Pz remove me’: Yameen’s quarrel with lawmakers goes viral

Leaked screenshots of President Abdulla Yameen admonishing ruling party lawmakers on the messaging platform Viber went viral Wednesday night.

Ministers on media offensive as defecting lawmakers declare stand

“The opposition has mounted several such political challenges in the past, which the administration is confident of weathering once again,” the president’s spokesman Ibrahim Hussain Shihab told Reuters.

Police claim to have evidence of MP Faris bribing lawmakers

The police have claimed to have evidence of MP Faris Maumoon bribing lawmakers to vote in favour of a no-confidence motion to remove the speaker of parliament, fuelling rumours of his impending arrest.

Ruling party calls on UN special rapporteur to repent over gay marriage tweet

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives has called on former Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed to repent over a tweet about Germany legalising same-sex marriage, accusing the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of promoting anti-Islamic practices.

Adeeb’s lawyers allege assassination plot

Adeeb’s lawyer Mahfooz Saeed wrote to Police Commissioner Ahmed Areef on Sunday claiming to have learned of “a plot to assassinate my client former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb in his cell in Dhoonidhoo prison.”