Malé, Maldives – Several Members of the Parliament have begun efforts to remove Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla from office.
It has been reported on local media that the efforts are being carried out by members of Nasheed’s party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and that so far 10 members have signed in support of his and Eva’s removal. Citing the source as a member of MDP’s Parliamentary Group, local media outlet adduLIVE further stated that some members are currently unable to sign the petition as they are out of town during the current Parliament vacation. However, many members are expected to sign the petition once they are back, and their aim is to submit a motion to remove both Nasheed and Eva from their designations as soon as the Parliament reopens, the news report read.
According to the constitution of the Maldives, a minimum of 43 votes is required to pass a motion to remove the Speaker of the Parliament.
There is currently another petition on change.org under the name #impeachnasheed, promoting Nasheed and Eva’s removal from office as well.
This comes at a time when the country’s political arena is anything but scandalous, with Nasheed’s brother, along with around 250 others being including other high profile persons of the constitutionally mandated Muslim country, being accused of homosexuality with a Bangladeshi man named MD Alamgir.
Unverified photos and videos of these sexual encounters have also been leaked on social media, which was followed by public outrage concerning homosexuality and prompted multiple arrests of individuals allegedly involved, including Nazim Sattar. It is said that the individuals portrayed in the videos were also blackmailed prior to the leaks. However, The Times of Addu has not independently verified these claims.
Nasheed took to twitter to criticise the government following his brother’s arrest, which garnered further hate against Nasheed himself with many calling for his resignation as well as his cousin and Deputy Speaker, Eva Abdulla.
Since then, Nasheed is also reported by local media outlets, to have claimed in a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) WhatsApp group that he is in possession of four images of President Ibrahim Solih having an extramarital sexual relationship with a woman. However, The Times of Addu has not verified these claims independently.
Local media outlets have also reported that Parliamentary Members of MDP are expressing lack of trust in Nasheed as Speaker to their Parliamentary Group Leader MP Mohamed Alsam.
