PPM seeks Supreme Court ruling on secret vote

Government Caolition partner PPM has filed a case in the Supreme Court  seeking the court’s ruling on the decision taken by the People’s Majlis yesterday to follow a secret vote procedure in impeachment motions on the President or Vice President and on no confidence votes on ministers.

In filing the case PPM Legal Counsel Mohamed Waheed has said the decision made by the Majlis to take a secret vote in these cases is illegal and therefore it is important to annul the decision. 

Elaborating on the matter Legal Counsel of the party has said the secret vote procedure poses a security threat. He also questioned about the legality of the votes cast by Medhuhenveyru MP Ali Azim  and Alifushee MP Mohamed Nashiz whose seats in the Majlis are in question because of unpaid debts as ordered  by the court.

Meanwhile, the Peoples’Majlis yesterday  passed vote to approve on the amendments to the Standing Orders of the People’s Majlis to conduct no-confidence motions on President and Members of the Cabinet through secret vote.

Proposed amendments to the Standing Orders of the People’s Majlis were made with the approval of 41 MPs, while 34 MPs voted against the motion. There were 0 abstentions.

Article 167(a) of the revised Standing Orders stipulates that an open vote shall be held under all circumstances with the exception of circumstances prescribed in the Constitution or in the Standing Orders which imposes the conduction of secret vote. Addition to Article 173 states pursuant to Articles 172 and 173 of the Standing Orders, where circumstances require, voting will be conducted by secret ballot in Majlis committees. Approved amendments to Article 177 now establish votes taken pursuant to Articles 172 and Article 173 as Secret Votes.