Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla dismissed claims that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has full control all lawmakers as well as he himself, insisting on Tuesday that he remains free of any influence.
He made the remarks in response to comments made by Kendhoo MP Ahmed Mauroof during Tuesday’s sitting. Mauroof, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that President Muizzu has full control of the incumbent parliamentary assembly.
He made the remark as he reiterated MDP’s accusations that the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), who hold a supermajority in the Parliament, have been blocking attempts they make to summon government ministers to the Parliament for questioning.
Mauroof alleged that Abdul Raheem, the chairperson of PNC, himself is under President Muizzu’s control.
“The Speaker, especially, is under the control of the President of the Republic. This place is getting operated like bots,” he said.
Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir. (Photo/People's Majlis)
Abdul Raheem interrupted Mauroof, and said that the Parliament is being run in accordance with the Standing Orders.
He said that Mauroof’s claim that the President has control of the entire Parliament, including the presidency, is incorrect.
Abdul Raheem said the Parliament is independent from the government and performing its oversight function.
“Therefore, I do not believe the fact that the party that the President belongs to has a supermajority here is not enough grounds to claim he is controlling this place,” he said.
Abdul Raheem asked Mauroof to refrain from making “demeaning” comments towards lawmakers.
Mauroof responded that he saw news headlines saying that President Muizzu himself instructed against summoning ministers for questioning during Ramadan.
He questioned why ministers weren’t being summoned to Parliament, despite the fact that Article 81 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders states that the ministers must answer questions at the Parliament after a 14-day notice period in response to summons by lawmakers.
“Fine. The three powers are separate. But are we functioning as if the three powers are separate? The Parliament passed the Judicature Act at the instructions of the President of the Republic just on the spot. The three justices got suspended with the three powers separate,” he said.
Mauroof likened President Muizzu to a king who is bent on consolidating power.