Maldives Parliament Turmoil: Clash Over Cabinet Approval Amidst Concerns of Anti-India Policies and Rising Chinese Influence 2024
Maldives Parliament Turmoil
In the Maldives Parliament, there has been a clash between the coalition and opposition MPs. The scuffle that began at the entrance of the Parliament escalated to the Speaker’s chair. MPs attempting to reach the Speaker were surrounded and blocked. One MP was seen pushing another to the ground, followed by a hair-pulling incident.
In a dramatic turn of events, an MP approached the Speaker and made such a loud noise near his ear that the Speaker had to cover his ear. All of this can be seen in a theatrical video that has emerged from the Maldives Parliament. The question arises: why did this violence and chaos unfold?
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The newly elected President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muzammil, has formed a coalition government with the ‘Progressive Party of Maldives’ and the ‘People’s National Congress.’ President Muzammil has created a new cabinet of 22 members. Parliament needed to approve and swear in the new ministers. However, the main opposition party, the ‘Maldivian Democratic Party,’ approved the names of 18 ministers but refused to accept the names of the four key ministers.
Another opposition party, the ‘Democrats,’ also rejected the names of three ministers, including the foreign minister. These two parties hold a majority with 56 MPs in the 87-member Parliament, meaning approval in Parliament is impossible without their consent. Opposition MPs, sensing their influence, attempted to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings to bring them to a standstill.
Now, the question arises: why did these two parties obstruct the approval of the cabinet? The reason is their belief that President Muzammil’s government is pursuing anti-India policies. Both main opposition parties argue that it distances a crucial partner in development, akin to removing a vital ally from shared growth. Muzammil has been openly supportive of China, having recently signed 22 agreements during his visit. On the other hand, Maldives has issued orders for the withdrawal of the Indian military present for relief and training.
There has been no renewal of the hydrography agreement with India. There are also reports of a Chinese research vessel arriving in Male. Many local leaders in the Maldives are concerned about China’s increasing influence, and that’s why they objected to approving the names of ministers who seem inclined towards aligning Maldives entirely with China’s policies.
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