News

Nasheed resigns as Parliament’s Speaker

Published

6 months ago

13/11/2023

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed resigned from his position as Parliament Speaker on Monday, ending a monthlong battle between lawmakers from the Maldivian Democratic Party and Democrats – as the MDP sought to oust their former leader from his position as the head of the state legislative body.

The MDP submitted a no-confidence motion against Nasheed with the endorsement of 49 MPs on October 9.

The Parliament had been scheduled to hear the motion at 11:00 am on Monday, but lawmakers from both the MDP and Democrats disrupted the sitting. Democrats expressed concern over the delay in budget work, while MDP lawmakers demanded that Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, Nasheed’s cousin and fellow Democrats member, step down from chairing the sitting.

Eva adjoined the sitting, citing a state of disorder.

But the Parliament’s Secretariat rescheduled the motion again for 04:00 pm. The sitting was chaired by Addu Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef – a lawmaker from MDP.

Shareef announced that Nasheed had sent a letter to the Parliament’s Secretary General Fathimath Niusha, informing of his resignation.

In the letter, Nasheed wrote that he was reigning following consideration of the impact the motion could have on the democratic process.

He accused MDP of threatening fundamental democratic principles.

The MDP had originally submitted no-confidence motions against both Nasheed and Eva earlier this year. The motion against Eva was submitted with the endorsement on 50 MPs in May, and the motion against Nasheed followed, with the endorsement of 54 MPs, in June.

But the MDP withdrew the motions in September, while the party was engaged in negotiations with the Democrats – the party to which both Nasheed and Eva belong – for the presidential runoff election.

The recent motion against Nasheed, which was initially tabled for October 26th, had remained stymied after Eva called in sick all through that week.

The Parliament’s Secretariat had decided that only the Deputy Speaker can chair sittings in the event of a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

The MDP lodged a constitutional case with the Supreme Court, which last week found the Secretariat’s decision to halt the motion unconstitutional.

In his resignation letter, Nasheed wrote that the Supreme Court, in its judgement, had stated that the court cannot interfere in the affairs of the Parliament unless under exceptional circumstances, in order to prevent the court’s rulings from getting political.

“But I regret that the words and actions of the Supreme Court do not correspond in this instance,” he wrote.

Nasheed added that he also regrets the actions of the MDP, which holds a majority at the Parliament, describing it as “a great injustice to the Maldivian people.”

“I find that remaining the Parliament’s Speaker will continue to escalate the damage the majority party is doing to the Parliament. I therefore resign from by position as Parliament’s Speaker,” he wrote.

Nasheed said he hopes his resignation will pave the path for the “restoration of stability and integrity under the democratic system.”

The resignation is a U-turn from when Nasheed, shortly after the Supreme Court judgement, sent a text to the Parliament’s Whatsapp group saying that the court case had thwarted the motion for five days, and that he believes he can continue to stall it until after President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu takes office on November 17.

MDP has also submitted a no-confidence motion against Eva, after accusing her of thwarting the motion against Nasheed.

Source(s): sun.mv

World

Hopes rise for possible truce as Gaza conflict nears 7th month

Published

4 hours ago

30/04/2024

Israel is set to send a delegation to Cairo for talks with Hamas on a new ceasefire proposal aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza as the conflict lingers on for nearly seven months now.

The delegation, composed of security officials, will depart on Tuesday to discuss the deal with Egyptian brokers, an Israeli government source told Xinhua.

A Hamas delegation left Egypt after the talks and will “return with a written response” to the latest truce proposal, according to Egyptian sources quoted by Al-Qahera News, a site also linked to Egyptian intelligence services.

Abdul Latif al-Qanou, a spokesman for Hamas, said on Monday in a statement that “ensuring a permanent ceasefire is a fundamental cornerstone for moving towards the details of negotiations and the success of the agreement with the Israeli occupation.”

According to the Israeli state-owned Kan TV, in the revised proposal, Israel has agreed to reduce the number of hostages it demands to be released to 33.

Israel initially insisted that Hamas release a minimum of 40 hostages but altered its position upon learning that the actual number of surviving hostages was below 40.

Speaking on Monday at a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt was hopeful about a proposal for a truce and the release of hostages, but awaiting responses from Israel and Hamas.

“We are hopeful the proposal has taken into account the positions of both sides, has tried to extract moderation from both sides, and we are waiting to have a final decision,” Shoukry said.

A Palestinian official close to mediation efforts told Reuters: “Things look better this time,” but declined to say whether an agreement was imminent.

Israel’s military operation to eradicate Hamas has killed at least 34,480 Palestinians and wounded 77,643, according to Gaza’s health authorities. It has displaced most of the Palestinian enclave’s 2.3 million people and laid much of the area to waste.

The campaign was triggered by the October 7 attack on Israel in which Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The conflict has brought Gaza to the brink of famine, United Nations and humanitarian aid groups say, while reducing much of the territory to rubble and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

High temperatures in crowded Rafah have turned makeshift shelters made from plastic tarps into sweltering ovens. The UN has warned of diseases spreading.

Source(s): CGTN

News

Investor confidence boosted with election win: Minister Saeed

Published

4 hours ago

30/04/2024

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed on Monday, has said investor confidence boosted significantly following ruling party’s victory in the recent parliamentary election.

The minister made these remarks at the ‘World Economic Forum’ held in Saudi Arabia, where he emphasized the importance of investors in sustainable development.

“Sustainable development is not about saving the post cards of Maldives for later, but about bringing the developmental vision, funds, and technology by investors without hesitance,” Minister Saeed said.

In relation to this, Saeed said on X that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s vision is to increase the renewable energy infrastructure in the Maldives, which would positively impact the country’s economy.

He further highlighted growing popularity towards the developmental vision of President Dr. Muizzu.

The results of last Sunday’s parliamentary election show ruling PNC securing 66 seats, thereby becoming the parliament’s majority party.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Fushidhiggaru project ongoing, will finish on time: Government

Published

2 days ago

28/04/2024

The Maldives government on Sunday assured Fushidhiggaru reclamation project, a key initiative under the vision of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has not stalled and would be completed on the scheduled date.

President’s Office Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed confirmed this on Sunday at a press conference, while providing details on other government initiatives.

The state has responded about the large-scale development project amid speculation in social media and by political opponents, claiming the initiative has stalled.

In response, Heena highlighted that the sand dredging in the project is currently on pause, stressing this was not indicative of the entire project being halted.

“I would like to ask, if they gauge the ongoing status of a capacity based on whether sand dredging is ongoing or not. Although sand dredging has stopped, there would be several other associated components of the project that requires attention and execution,” Heena commented.

She further said the project requires administrative and other work, all of which, she added, were ongoing.

“In response, I would like to reply that the Fushidhiggaru project has not stalled, it is ongoing. The project would conclude as per the scheduled date announced by the President,” she said.

Under the large-scale development project, 1,153 hectares of land will be reclaimed, which is thrice the combined size of Hulhumale’ Phase I and II.

The iniatiative commenced officially on December 18, 2023 while the Maldives President assured the reclamation component will conclude within eight months from the date of commencement.

Source(s): sun.mv