Clashes erupted in the Maldives Parliament on Sunday between pro-government Members of Parliament (MPs) and opposition lawmakers. The discord centered around the approval of four members of President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet, known for his pro-China stance.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) opted to withhold parliamentary approval for the cabinet members, prompting pro-government MPs to initiate a protest, causing a disruption in the parliamentary proceedings. Amidst the chaos, a physical altercation broke out between Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem Shaheem and Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa.
The scuffle resulted in injuries, with Shaheem reportedly sustaining head injuries. Minority leader Moosa Siraj intervened to quell the confrontation. Following the incident, Shaheem was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The opposition's decision not to approve certain members of President Muizzu's cabinet triggered further turmoil, leading the ruling party Progressive Party of Maldives and the People’s National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition-affiliated MPs to disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
The MPs gathered near the speaker’s chair, engaging in a physical altercation as shown in a viral video on social media. Meanwhile, Mathiveri Member of Parliament Hassan Zareer suffered serious injuries to his finger during the melee.
The voting process came to a standstill, and the atmosphere outside the parliament intensified as pro-government supporters and officials protested, advocating for the approval of cabinet ministers.
Despite the majority held by the MDP in parliament, they chose not to vote in favor of four cabinet members, including Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed.
The ruling PPM-PNC coalition contended that denying parliamentary approval to President Muizzu's cabinet would obstruct essential government services to citizens.
In response, the coalition filed no-confidence motions against the Parliament’s Speaker Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem. The motions were rooted in the stalled cabinet approval, accusing Speaker Aslam of misusing his official capacity to favor a particular party.
President Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, took office on November 17 last year. Shortly thereafter, he formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives, citing a "strong mandate" from the Maldivian people for this request to New Delhi.
Follow us
