Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh will be ousted and a vote of no-confidence against President Abdulla Yameen will be proposed before next year’s presidential elections, said former Islamic Minister Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari.

Bari, who was the first Islamic Minister in Maldives’ history, said this while speaking to RaajjeTV’s and added that ‘political prisoners’ will be freed and inclusive elections will be held in 2018.

The former minister further said that once Maseeh is removed from his position at the helm of parliament, a vote will determine who would replace him. 

Bari further said that the ousting of 12 parliamentarians by the Elections Commission is unlawful and that it was the backlash of the government losing majority in parliament. He said that this decision would be reversed as well.

Bari’s words about the inclusivity of the upcoming elections is reflected in the opposition’s hope that former President Mohamed Nasheed, who has been sentenced to a prison term on terrorism allegations, will be running for president in 2018.