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.
10 Jul 2017, 9:00 AM
Attorney General Mohamed Anil has asked the Supreme Court to declare that MPs who leave their party, joins another party or is expelled from the party will lose their seat.
A first hearing took place Monday afternoon after the constitutional case was abruptly put on the apex court’s agenda in the morning.
It comes after ten ruling party lawmakers joined the opposition alliance to seek the removal of Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed. A no-confidence motion was submitted last week with 45 signatures from the 85-member house, signalling the collapse of President Abdulla Yameen’s previously unassailable pro-government majority.
Eight of the ten defectors have quit the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives in recent days amid rumours of the AG planning to seek a Supreme Court ruling to scuttle the July 24 no-confidence vote.
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