The Maldives Parliament was plunged into chaos as members of the government’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) on Sunday disrupted proceedings, leading to a violent clash between lawmakers. The incident occurred during a scheduled vote on parliamentary approval for the Mohamed Muizzu government.
News agency ANI cited Adhadhu, an online news outlet in the Maldives, as reporting that a brawl unfolded between Members of Parliament (MPs) Isa from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Abdullah Shaheem Abdul Hakeem from the PNC.
Dramatic visuals circulating on social media depicted the scuffle, with one video showing Shaheem gripping Isa’s leg, causing both to fall, while another viral clip showed Isa kicking Shaheem’s neck and pulling his hair. Additional footage captured other members intervening to push Shaheem out of the altercation.
(Trigger warning: The videos contain visuals of assault and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.)
*Viewer discretion advised*
Parliament proceedings have been disrupted after clashes between PPM/PNC MPs and opposition MPs. pic.twitter.com/vhvfCBgQ1s
— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
ކެނދިކުޅުދޫ ދާއިރާގެ މެމްބަރު އީސާގެ ފައިގައި ހިފައި ކަނޑިތީމު މެމްބަރު ޝަހީމް ވައްޓާލާ މަންޒަރު. އެމްޑީޕީ ދޫކޮށް ޕީއެންސީއާ ގުޅުނު ސަރުކާރުގެ މެމްބަރުން މަޖިލީހަށް ހުރަސް އެޅުމާއެކު ތަޅުމުގައި ހަމަނުޖެހުން އަންނަނީ ހިނގަމުން. pic.twitter.com/mnmzvYKsrO
— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
The clash resulted in injuries, with a parliamentarian reportedly being taken to an ambulance for medical attention, as per local media, ANI’s report mentioned. The violent incident occurred just ahead of the scheduled 1:30 p.m. vote on the approval of ministers from the Muizzu government.
In an attempt to disrupt the parliamentary session, several PNC members barricaded the House, expressing their concern that approving the ministers would impede progress. They demanded the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament. A statement released by the ruling coalition parties, the PNC and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPP), expressed the refusal to approve ministers as a hindrance to the delivery of public services.
Chief Advisor to Muizzu and PNC Chairman Abdul Raheem Abdullah countered these claims, asserting that ministers have the right to be reappointed even without explicit authorisation. He criticised the rejection of ministerial approval as irresponsible, ANI reported.
This incident follows recent opposition from two political parties in the Maldives—the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats—expressing dissatisfaction with the current regime’s perceived anti-India stance. In a joint press statement, the opposition parties labeled the shift in foreign policy as “extremely detrimental” to the country’s long-term development.
Emphasising the importance of stability and security in the Indian Ocean, they reiterated the need for consecutive governments to maintain the ability to collaborate with all development partners for the benefit of the Maldivian people.
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