Opposition MPs angered by rejecting impeachment article

18 November 2007
Report: Ayya

Opposition members of the People's Special Majlis were outraged when a draft of the Article on the impeachment of the president was turned down by large number of members supporting the government. Special Majlis was continuing its marathon meetings of voting for the draft constitution and had adopted most Articles of the chapter on the People's Majlis when the article on the impeachment of the President was taken for voting. Speaker of Special Majlis Qasim Ibrahim who had received a thundering applause from opposition members when he took vote on the article on questioning ministers objected by Presidents members new Attorney General Azima Shukoor and Fathin Hameed who argued the matter contravened principles Majlis adopted for referendum on system of government held in August.


In the Article on impeachment of the President, the preamble paragraph was voted for and it did not get required majority. This resulted in an immediate outburst by opposition members who stood up and started shouting in anger, criticizing the government MPs and called for President's resignation. They said an impeachment article is not meant for a particular person, it is an Article enshrined in the present constitution. They question edabout the sincerity of the constitutional reform and why such an important article is rejected. Many Members said, they were humiliated by the Majlis rejecting such a
important Article, and the vote was taken only on the preamble of an already existing article in the present constitution. If there are differences on the substantive Articles, then its a different matter, This is only the introductory article and it is so disappointing that government MPs have refused it when we are working with a strong spirit to complete the constitution by 30 November, they said.


The uproar was one of the worst in recent weeks. Several Members walked out in protest. Speaker Qasim at this point announced he is closing the meeting due to the circumstances. A very senior and influential government MP who wanted to remain anonymous said he was disappointed for what happened and said the uproar could have been avoided. “This is just a preamble of the issue and I don't see any reason why we should go on wrangling. Even the issue of questioning ministers, we could have taken positively. We are already practicing it. So why do we go backwards? It could be just lack of dialogue and communication." He said.


According to some sources, government MPs did not mean to reject the article outright, but they wanted to bring some important changes to the clause. There was also a suggestion to move the Article to the Chapter on the President. Some members have objected to moving the Article elsewhere saying the issue was adopted under the Majlis when the main principles and features were decided by the Majlis.


Earlier in the same meeting the Article on questioning Ministers was rejected by the Majlis which the opposition protested. A Member said we can question Ministers now, and when we are going to have a better, accountable and more transparent presidential system, it is strange why Ministers cannot be questioned in the Majlis. President's ember Azima Shkoor explained in a point of order we cannot have that provision in the constitution as the people of the country have been told presidential system will not have this feature.

President's member Fathin Hameed also spoke to defend this decision. However, Addu member Husnu Suood said the Majlis passed principles and features of both presidential and parliamentary system on the understanding they are not fully binding. Speaker Qasim read out the relevant documents on the issue and the features passed by the Majlis for the referendum did not include questioning Ministers. But a further document passed for the same matter outlined the features and principles can have some variations without effecting main principles.


In yesterday's voting, Majlis has decided to reduce the quorum of the People's Majlis to 25 % of Majlis members. In the current constitution quorum of the Majlis is 26 members which is 50% plus 1. The Special Majlis have also passed relevant articles which stipulate that under the new constitution, cabinet ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers, and government officials of that level, members of independent institutions, members of civil service, judges, employees of state companies, defence force and police personnel cannot be Members of the Majlis at the same time. The same chapter provides that People's Majlis as legislature will make law and amend constitution.

That means Maldives will have only one assembly for both constitution and law, and thus will not have People's Special Majlis after the new constitution comes into force.

Special Majlis have been in full gear for the past month with three meetings held everyday. Already a considerable part of the constitution has been passed and members have been in high spirit to complete the work by the end of November. Majlis has earlier passed a decision to complete the constitution by 30 November by a huge majority.