The Parliament has voted in favour to impeach Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.78 members voted in favour of the motion with 02 voting against it and no abstentions.
The Parliament sitting to impeach Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed was held in abstention of the VP himself.
Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Maseeh has announced that VP was invited to the sitting, stating that the VP had not informed that he would not be attended the sitting.
Speaker Maseeh said that under the constitution, VP is afforded the chance to respond the impeachment in person or in writing.
A letter under the letterhead of the VP Jameel’s Lawyers Suood Anwar and Co. was received by the Parliament at 1022hrs, but Speaker Maseeh noted since the letter was not signed by the VP, the letter cannot be considered as communication from the VP regarding his impeachment.
MP Ahmed Nihan , majority leader presented the resolution to impeach the VP noted that the resolution is signed by 61 members of the Parliament, and is presented as the VP was inefficient and has not done any work in defending the government.
Two hours were allocated for the debate on the resolution, but since the VP is not present, members were given one and half hours to deliberate on the issue.
MP Nihan who first spoke on the issue noted that the main issue for his impeachment is the VP’s failure in attending to issues in the health sector.
MP Maria Ahmed Didi of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party noted with concern that the Parliament did not afford the chance for the VP to respond to his impeachment.
She noted that VP Jameel as Vice President and as Home Minister prior to the 2013 elections failed in protect the right of a vast majority of citizens, noting that he always discriminated against the members of Maldivian Democratic Party as citizens who were "nonreligious".
MP Ali Mauroof of Maldivian Development Alliance from the ruling PPM-MDA coalition noted that VP Jameel was not sidelined from his duties but he failed in carrying on his duties, especially the commitments to the health and education sectors.
Independent MP Ahmed Mahloof noted that the impeachment motion clearly shows the tyranny of President Abdulla Yameen, by ousting the very person who carried him to Presidency.
MP Eva Abdulla noted that as a member of MDP, and as the Parliament Member representing former President Mohamed Nasheed, she there would be no one else who better understands the bitterness of the results of a traitor VP.
Noting that rumours are that VP Jameel is conspiring with former President Maumoon to take over the Presidency and bring in a son of President Maumoon as the new VP, MP Eva noted that there was no chance that a member of MDP would vote in favour of a traitor VP.
She noted that there wasn't much the opposition could do when a President petitions that he has no confidence in his own Vice President.
MP Ali Hussain of Jumhooree Party too noted that it was concerning that VP Jameel was not afforded the chance to respond to the motion against him.
He said that it was a dark day in the history of the Maldives, as this motion is taking place against the spirit of the constitution, as the person accused is not afforded the chance to respond.
Opposition MP Rozaina Adam noted that it was more concerning that the Speaker himself was amending the Parliament Procedures to the will of the government when it came to the impeachment procedures against VP Jameel.
She noted that all these amendments were personally targeted to prevent VP Jameel from responding to the governments claims against him.
She noted that today's Parliament sitting is being held just like the trials of former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defense Minister Col(Rtd) Mohamed Nazim where they too were not afforded the chance to defend themselves.
JP Member Ilhaam Ahmed noted since this was a motion petitioned by the government of President Abdulla Yameen, stating that the President and his party had no confidence in its VP, Jumhooree Party would vote in favour of supporting the government.
Adhaalath MP Anaaraa Naeem said, since 2013 there has been a ruffle with the presidents and their VPs, it is questionable if the post of VP is necessary.
She said that the reality of the fact is that this post was causing more trouble than good, thus citizens now need to assess if this post is indeed necessary.
Vice President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has stated that he was blackmailed and threatened of being framed of immense crime if he did not resign from his post as VP.
In his intended response to the impeachment motion against him, which was broadcast via RaajjeTV this morning, Jameel described his last days at office as “standing on the rim of a blade”.
He said that his character was assassinated and that he received a number of personal threats against him and his family forcing him to resign.
In his statement, VP Jameel noted that like the charges against “the others” he too was threatened with texts messages like “let’s talk”, “let’s discuss” from “the most vocal Minister”.
Jameel noted that he has been sidelined from the constitutional system and said that he did not believe that a person elected through a people’s vote could be impeached like this.
Speaker Abdulla Maseeh concluded the today's session noting that an additional session might be called on today. This might mean that the nomination to the new VP might be deliberated and voted on today.
President Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.
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