The Maldives parliament witnessed chaotic scenes on Sunday, when key deliberations were stopped by the governing coalition clashing with opposition legislators. The dispute occurred during a special session called to seek parliamentary approval to appoint ministers in President Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet.
Scenes inside the Parliament
Pro-government lawmakers from the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) broke out in protest after the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), led by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, that holds a majority in Parliament, chose to withhold approval for four members of President Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet. The protesters argued that recognizing the ministers would thwart progress and called on the Speaker of Parliament to quit.
Shaheem was injured during the disturbance and had to be brought to the hospital.
Muizzu’s anti-India stance
Muizzu, who came into office in November owing primarily to his ‘India Out’ campaign, has pursued a firm pro-China policy. He asked India to evacuate all 88 military troops from the island nation by March and has reviewed scores of pacts signed with New Delhi in recent years. Muizzu’s anti-India position, however, has sparked widespread outrage in the Maldives.
The MDP and The Democrats recently released a joint press statement describing the move in foreign policy as ‘very harmful’ to the the nation’s long-term prosperity. The opposition also stated that “stability and security in the Indian Ocean is vital to the stability and security of the Maldives.”
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