Muizzu Under Pressure As Maldives Opposition Moves To Impeach Him. What Do The Numbers Say?

Is it game over for newly-elected Maldivian President, Mohamed Muizzu? It will not be immediately clear but opposition members of the Maldivian parliament from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a majority in the Parliament, claimed to have gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach him on Monday.

The decision to impeach the Maldivian President, who has had a rough start to his presidency since assuming office in November last year, came after members of the Majlis (the Maldivian parliament) clashed over differences over the approval of four members of Muizzu’s cabinet.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats’ parliamentary group decided to withhold parliamentary approval for four members of President Muizzu’s cabinet ahead of the voting, the pro-government MPs from the ruling party Progressive Party of Maldives and People’s National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition initiated a protest. This led to a brawl inside the parliament which went viral on social media.

Heavy police arrangements were made to tighten the security in the Maldivian parliament ahead of Monday’s session.

The Majlis on Monday finally approved 19 ministers in President Muizzu’s Cabinet but rejected the approval of Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Islamic Affairs Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and housing minister Ali Haidhar. Finance Minister Mohamed Saeed narrowly survived the same fate.

Some of the MDP MPs defected at the time of voting to clear the names for Cabinet Portfolios due to which the Economic Minister sailed through but the Islamic Minister, Housing Minister and Attorney General got blocked by opposition parties.

However, President Muizzu re-appointed them for the same portfolios.

Sitting MDP MP told News18, “Muizzu may bribe MPs the way he did last time to save his chair.” She also said her party MPs and she was harassed but cops and marshalls did not take any action against MPs from Muizzu’s party.

What Do The Numbers Say

The removal of the Maldives President, according to the Maldivian Constitution, involves submitting a resolution with reasons by one-third of the Maldivian parliament. The resolution must then get backing from two-thirds of the total Majlis.

The opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), holds the majority presenting a challenge to the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and People’s National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.

The size of the Majlis is 87 and it is currently composed of 80 members.

The MDP and the Democrats have 56 MPs and have signed the impeachment motion. The required number of signatures needed to move the impeachment motion is 54 and 56 have given their consent to move the motion but have not submitted it yet, according to a report by Maldivian news outlet Sun.

If these MPs decide to submit the motion, President Mohamed Muizzu will be allotted 14 days time to come up with an answer. On the 14th day, he will be given one hour to defend himself in the Maldivian parliament.

After the session, voting will take place and if 54 MPs cast votes in favour of impeaching the president, then Muizzu may have to step down from office.

In the event of an impeachment, the vice president of Maldives, as per the Constitution, will take over the office.

Prestige Battle

During the voting to clear names for the cabinet portfolios, some MDP MPs defected, allowing the finance minister Mohamed Saeed to pass while blocking housing minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and attorney general Ahmed Usham. These three were then reappointed to their respective ministries and retook the oath of office during a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Monday evening.

This signals that President Muizzu has turned it into a prestige battle.

People familiar with the developments said that a special sitting of the Majlis was ordered on February 1 and the presidential address has been scheduled for February 5 amid ongoing political tensions in Maldives.

A sitting MDP MP voiced concerns about Muizzu’s attempts to bribe certain MPs, which he did before to retain power. The MP also alleged the MPs from her party as well as herself faced harassment but cops and marshalls did not take any action against MPs from Muizzu’s party.