Maldives: Opposition Party Set To Move Impeachment Motion Against President Muizzu

The main opposition party of the Maldives, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is prepping up to move an impeachment motion against Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Maldivian local media The Sun reported

It has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach Muizzu, The Sun reported quoting a lawmaker. It comes a day after clashes broke out in Parliament on Sunday between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers over differences over the approval of four members of the pro-China President's cabinet.

A total of 34 members, comprising representatives from both the MDP and Democrats, have endorsed the motion for the president's impeachment. The proceedings were disrupted yesterday due to chaos in the Maldivian parliament, according to a report in Adhadhu.

Following the decision by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats' parliamentary group to withhold parliamentary approval for four members of President Muizzu's cabinet before the vote, pro-government MPs from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition staged a protest, disrupting the parliamentary session.

"The MDP, in partnership with the Democrats, have gathered enough signatures for an impeachment motion. However, they have yet to submit it," the lawmaker was quoted as saying.

It was a unanimous decision taken in the parliamentary group meeting, The Edition.mv reported.

45-year-old Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

After assuming the power, Muizzu formally asked India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people had given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi.

The Parliament, which has 87 members, had recently amended its standing orders to make it easier to submit an impeachment motion. The MDP and Democrats, together, have 56 MPs between them; 43 MPs from MDP, and 13 from Democrats.

"The Constitution, along with the Parliament's standing orders, dictates that the president can be impeached with 56 votes," the Sun.com reported.

The Parliament, consisting of 87 members, recently amended its standing orders to streamline the process of submitting an impeachment motion. Collectively, the MDP and Democrats hold 56 MPs, with 43 from the MDP and 13 from the Democrats.