The Maldivian parliament, also known as The People’s Majlis, had the men in suits and ties, the lawmakers beating, kicking, and pushing each other. It was quite a blockbuster. It premiered on Sunday in Malé, and the protagonist is President Muhammad Muizzu. He took office three months back, and now he faces the threat of impeachment.
The Buildup to the Brawl
The opposition is up in arms, blocking his appointments and holding him to account. This is quite a dramatic turn of events because until a few days ago, Muizzu seemed to be in total control. He was issuing ultimatums, picking fights with neighbors like India. But it seems he overplayed his hand, tried to ride roughshod over the Parliament, and now they’re testing his authority and his grip on power.
The Trigger Event in the Maldivian Parliament
First things first, what triggered the brawl? A vote. It was to be held on Sunday, and this was not a regular session. The lawmakers were called for a special vote to approve Muizzu’s Cabinet. When he came to power, the president picked his team, the cabinet. But according to the Constitution of the Maldives, the parliament must sign off on this cabinet. That is the law. In his capacity as president, Muizzu can fill only one position, that of vice president. For the cabinet positions, he must convince the parliament; he must get a nod from them.
Political Dynamics and Opposition
And this was always going to be a problem because Muizzu’s party is in minority. His party plus his allies are in minority in the parliament in Malé; the opposition is in the majority. So for President Muizzu to have his team in place, he needs support from the opposition. It was clear from day one. He should have known this. He should have tried to work with opposition leaders, but he did not. Instead of seeking support, he tried to push them around. He attempted to use force to get his appointments through, and this backfired.
The president proposed 22 names, the opposition cleared 18 positions they blocked the remaining four
- Ahmed usham the Attorney General
- Muhammad saeed the Economy Minister
- Dr Ali haidar the housing Minister and
- Dr Muhammad shaheem Ali saeed the Islamic Minister
these were the names that have been blocked the opposition issued a whip against them the muizzu camp was was Furious they abused the opposition one thing led to another and the result was this brawl.
Escalation and Brawl
Reports say the Muizzu camp instigated this. They locked the chamber doors, blocked opposition members from entering the house, and when they still did not have their way, they started protesting and obstructing the proceedings. Some lawmakers reached the speaker’s chair; these were supporters of the president. They tried to stop the speaker from addressing the parliament. What followed was fist fights; lawmakers punched, pushed, and kicked each other. Complete pandemonium. At least two lawmakers were hurt in this, and all of this happened yesterday.
Aftermath and Impeachment Threat
Then earlier today, the parliament met again. The MPs finally got a chance to vote. Remember, yesterday’s proceedings were disrupted, so they had to vote today. There was some relief for the president this time. One of the blocked names was cleared, Economy Minister Muhammad Saeed. His name has been cleared now; the other three have been rejected. So, the impasse continues. What’s worse, the president could now face an impeachment vote. The opposition is preparing a motion; they’re gathering signatures. They already have the support of 34 members, they say, which is enough to bring the motion to the floor.
Political Arithmetic and Showdown
The house has a total of 80 members. The ruling coalition has 19 seats; the opposition claims that it has the support of 56 members. The rest are said to be undecided. And how many votes you need to impeach the president? At least 2/3 of the house, so at least 54, meaning the opposition has the numbers, and the president is on thin ice. His supporters have submitted a motion of their own. It targets the speaker and the deputy speaker, both belonging to the opposition. So, the stage is basically set for a major showdown in the Maldives. Less than three months into office, President Muizzu is struggling to save his chair.
Source : News
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