DRP Walkout On Brink Of Transition Vote

Rising tensions over the constitution in progress spilled over into parliamentary warfare today, with the ruling Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) staging a walkout as the assembly stood on the brink of a vote that would have finalised the Maldives’ new constitution.

The opposition and DRP then held press conferences in quick succession, amid an extensive presence from police in combat gear around the Majlis (parliament) building, to accuse each other of sabotaging the democratic process.

The final chapter remaining is that on transitional arrangements – long a political touchstone, with the DRP seeking a continuation of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s thirty-year rule and the opposition prioritising arrangements that reduce his power during the election period.

But with 97 clauses now up for a parliamentary vote, based on 11 proposals submitted by members, a point of order escalated into a row that postponed the crucial vote until Sunday’s session.

Order

With the public gallery packed in anticipation of a vote, the DRP had imposed a three-line whip on all its members to vote for proposals made by head of parliamentary group Aneesa Ahmed.

But when its whip sheet was distributed shortly before voting was due to start, Laamu atoll member Reeko Moosa Manik of the largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) raised a point of order, saying Majlis regulations forbade distribution of documents affecting a vote after the end of the debate.

DRP members argued his point was invalid, adding the whip sheet – which listed the clauses by number only, without including their substance – had been distributed late because of a change in the numbering, and was necessary for its MPs to know how to vote.

Special Majlis speaker Gasim Ibrahim, also finance minister and a DRP vice president, ruled against the party, who then “tore [the sheets] into pieces or stuffed them into their pockets” according to head of MDP parliamentary group Hassan Afeef, and left the Majlis.

MDP and independent MPs told journalists, surrounded by police outside the Majlis gates, that “the government would be lost if it lost the whip” and “privately, most DRP people support [our proposals]”.

But at a subsequent DRP press conference, party coordinator Ibrahim Shafiu maintained the DRP retained a “super majority” and warned: “We will walk out again if they don’t cooperate.”

Numbers

The DRP lost a major parliamentary vote on Tuesday, with the abstention or absence of three of its members meaning it fell short of the majority required to pass a vote on its proposed amendments to the Civil Service Act 2007.

The defeat – a first for a party which has an inbuilt parliamentary majority including eight presidential appointees – has focused attention on key power brokers within the Majlis and Special Majlis (constitutional assembly), such as Special Majlis speaker and finance minister Gasim Ibrahim, and the People’s Association group of ex-ministers.

The People’s Association (PA) parliamentarians, led by the president’s half-brother Abdullah Yameen, could have swung Tuesday’s vote in the government’s favour, but instead voted against or abstained.

And despite rumours the group remains close to the government, MP Ahmed Nazim has now said the PA supports proposals by independent MP Ahmed “ADK” Nashid, which favour opposition preferences.

The move has increased speculation that despite having 29 presidential appointees in the Special Majlis, the DRP may be uncertain of its majority for the crucial transition vote.

Proposals

Aneesa’s proposal for transition includes a clause specifically saying the limit of two presidential terms begins with the new constitution, allowing President Gayoom to run again.

It also allows the current president and parliament to stay in place until elections.

But opposition parliamentarians are currently favouring Nashid’s draft, which allows Gayoom to complete his current term – ending on 11 November – but then puts a committee selected by parliament at the head of state for a period up to six months.

As a compromise with the DRP, it specifies presidential elections ahead of parliamentary and local polls.

Despite Gasim’s ruling against them in today’s skirmish, DRP parliamentarians were careful not to criticise his decision, with Shafiu saying: “We are not accusing anyone. We know the pressure he is under.”