President Urges Breakaway Z-Faction of DRP and Their Leader Not to Disrupt Parliament Sittings

Speaking on the forced cancellation of recent People´s Majlis sittings in today´s radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has urged the Zaeem-DRP , breakaway faction of opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) that follows ´Zaeem´ and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and their Leader Gayoom not to disrupt the People´s Majlis sittings.

Underscoring the separation of powers in the Maldivian state, the President said inturrpting the functions of any one of the state´s powers was in effect an obstruction to the state.

He added that it would be impossible for over 300,000 people of the country to realize their aspirations for development, progress and prosperity if the state remains obstructed.

Members of Parliament who belong to Zaeem-DRP (Z-DRP) have promised to disrupt future sittings of the Majlis in protest over the legality of Majlis sitting on Tuesday that revised composition of Parliament committees.

Reiterating his call on Z-DRP MPs not to continue their attempts to disrupt Majlis sittings, the President reminded them that such attempts were effectively attempts to disrupt the state.

He requested Z-DRP MPs not to act on their promise to obstruct the People´s Majlis sitting scheduled for Monday.

Z-DRP MPs claim that the Majlis Speaker acted against parliamentary rules in scheduling Tuesday night´s sitting and vowed to disrupt future Majlis sittings until the Speaker invalidates Tuesday night´s vote and revisits the composition of parliamentary committees.

The President, in today´s radio address, said he was confident that the Speaker had the backing he needed to continue Majlis sessions and the state had, at its disposal, resources to move the state forward swiftly.

However, he underlined that the Speaker and everyone else have always chose inclusive consultation with and discussion among all stakeholders in resolving issues.

He added that when the Speaker decides a matter based on the outcome of a vote in the parliament, everyone was obliged to accept and move forward with the decision despite their approval or disapproval of the outcome.