Parliament Schedules Special Sitting to Remove Deputy Speaker Nazim

The special parliamentary sitting to remove Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has been scheduled for next Sunday.

The extraordinary sitting, which will be held outside the regular parliamentary session, was arranged to deliberate on a motion submitted to remove Nazim from his post as Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis.

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) decided to seek Nazim’s removal, accusing him of working in favor of a separate political ideology and acting in ways that undermine the interests of Parliament. In the motion submitted to Parliament, the PNC alleged that Nazim had abused the influence of his position for unlawful benefit and was creating discord.

The resolution states that Nazim had repeatedly acted in a manner that harms the interests of Parliament by favoring certain parties, creating unrest, and showing political bias in parliamentary affairs. It further accuses him of neglecting his responsibilities as Deputy Speaker.

As efforts to remove him intensified, Nazim has since left the Maldives. His departure came amid rumors that authorities were preparing to arrest him.

Ahmed Nazim is regarded as one of the most experienced figures in Maldivian politics. He previously served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 2009 to 2015 and was known as a close ally of former President Abdulla Yameen.

However, in 2015, Nazim was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of corruption and abuse of power. After traveling abroad for medical treatment, he later sought political asylum in the United Kingdom.

Nazim returned to active politics in 2018 after the Supreme Court overturned his conviction.

The sitting scheduled for Sunday is expected to become a crucial moment in determining the future of Nazim’s political career.