PPM will not support secret vote

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has decided not to support the proposal of a secret vote procedure in the People’s Majlis in cases of the impeachment of the President and no confidence vote on Ministers.

A parliamentary group member of PPM informed DhiTV that the party will reject the proposed amendment to Article 173 of the Standing Orders which calls for an addition of a clause to it under the circumstances stated in Article 172 to make the vote in Majlis to remove President from office a Secret Vote.

The member said that PPM will never support this amendment proposed to change the standing orders to remove the current President.

PPM parliamentary group member further said that the members of the Majlis are elected by the people to represent the people and it will be unfair to make the votes in Majlis secret to the people.

So far only Jumhooree Party has expressed support to these amendments proposed by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Meanwhile, the motion of no-confidence submitted by MDP against Home Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel was withdrawn by the MDP yesterday. The withdrawal of the motion of no-confidence was announced by MDP Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Mohamed Salih in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Peoples’ Majlis.