By Girish Linganna
Jan 30: On Monday (January 29, 2024), the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which has the largest number of members in the Parliament of the archipelagic nation, gathered enough signatures to propose the removal of President Mohamed Muizzu from office. According to a member of the MDP, the party has collected a sufficient number of signatures, aided by the cooperation of the Democrats, another Opposition party, to propose an impeachment resolution in the House.
An impeachment resolution is a formal proposal put forward by a legislative body to remove a public official, such as president, from their position of power. To successfully pass the impeachment motion in the single-chamber House, it needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority. The two parties in the Opposition have a total of 55 members in Parliament, which is more than the minimum required number of 54.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), with 42 seats in the 80-member Majlis, seems to have formed an alliance with the Democrats, a breakaway faction holding 13 seats. This alliance is in opposition to President’s Muizzu’s ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). The Opposition claims that President Muizzu’s actions are creating a distance with India, which has been a longstanding ally of the Maldives.
The current government in the Maldives is led by President Mohamed Muizzu, who belongs to the PNC. The PNC is in a coalition with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which is the main Opposition party to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of former President Ibrahim Solih.
In the 2023 parliamentary elections, the PNC-PPM coalition emerged victorious, winning a total of 36 seats. This coalition was formed by the PPM-PNC alliance, which secured 19 seats, with Muizzu’s PNC winning 16 seats; PPM 2 seats; and Independent 1 seat. Alongside the PNC-PPM coalition, other parties and Independent candidates—including the DEM won 13; Jumhooree Party 2; and Independents 2.
The main Opposition coalition—the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Maldivian Development Alliance (MDA)—won a total of 44 seats in the 2023 parliamentary elections. This consisted of 42 seats won by the MDP, itself, and 2 seats secured by the MDA.
The current 19th Parliament, led by Muizzu, consists of a total of 80 members. Initially, there were 87 members, but seven MPs from the ruling coalition resigned to join Muizzu’s new government, resulting in vacant seats. According to Article 78 of the Constitution, these vacant seats should be filled within 60 days. However, if there are fewer than six months left until the next parliamentary election, no by-elections will be held to fill the vacancies.
The PNC-PPM coalition is generally viewed as more inclined towards China and less inclined towards India compared to the MDP.
Impeachment a Complex Issue
The potential impeachment of President Muizzu is a complex issue with several contributing factors. While the process has not officially begun, the Opposition MDP has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion and expressed its intentions to do so. Here are some key reasons cited for the potential impeachment:
Political Tensions, Parliamentary Clashes
- Disagreements over Cabinet appointments: In January 2024, Parliament sessions erupted in violence between pro-government and Opposition MPs due to the rejection of some of Muizzu’s Cabinet nominees. This incident highlighted the deep political divide and fuelled further opposition towards the President
- Accusations of anti-India pivot: Muizzu’s perceived shift away from traditionally close ties with India and towards China has also drawn criticism from the MDP and concerns about regional stability
- Erosion of parliamentary support: Some defections from the MDP to the ruling coalition have reduced Muizzu’s own party’s majority in Parliament, weakening his political standing
Concerns Over Muizzu’s Governance Style
- Corruption, misuse of power charges: The Opposition has accused Muizzu’s administration of corruption and using money and military backing to undermine democratic processes
- Concerns about economic policies: The MDP has criticized the government’s economic policies, particularly its relationship with China, and believes they harm the country’s long-term interests
- Failure to address key issues: Critics argue that Muizzu has not adequately addressed pressing issues, such as youth unemployment and environmental concerns
It is important to note that these are the main reasons cited by the Opposition. Muizzu’s supporters and the ruling coalition have counter-arguments against these accusations, emphasising his focus on development and strengthening national security. Ultimately, the fate of the potential impeachment process depends on the Maldivian Parliament and judicial system.
(The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)