Majlis General Purpose Committee again pass secret voting in no confidence motion

The General Purpose Committee of the Peoples’ Majlis has again passed to make secret votes in no confidence motions against the President, Vice President and members of the cabinet. It was passed in yesterday’s meeting of the General Purpose Committee.

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Maafannu Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Rasheed sought to make votes to remove the President and Members of the Cabinet from office – both in Majlis proceedings and committees – secret votes, through amendments to Article 167 (a), and addition of a clause to Articles 173 and 177.

Chair of the General Purpose Committee, MP Abdullah Abdurraheem said that the amendment proposed by MP Ibrahim Rasheed was passed in the committee meeting yesterday with four members from the nine present voting in favour of it. The MPs of government coalition did not participate in the vote.

MP Abdurraheem said that the report on amendment proposed to the rule of procedure to conduct no-confidence motions through secret votes will be submitted to the Majlis floor as soon as it is completed.

The amendment is to be presented to the Majlis floor pursuant to Article 123(a) of the Standing Orders.

The motion on taking secret votes in no confidence motions against the President and Members of the Cabinet was earlier rejected at the Twenty First Sitting of the Third Session of Majlis. Thirty four MPs voted in favor of the motion, while thirty nine voted against.