Parliament has tabled the no-confidence motion against Speaker, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed for March 27.

The motion was filed in Parliament last week, with the signatories of 26 opposition lawmakers. It was backed by some MPs from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP) Jumhooree Party (JP) and ruling coalition partners, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

The opposition maintains that “it is of national interest,” to impeach Maseeh.

The six-point motion accused Maseeh of ‘refusing to ensure’ equality in parliament, disregarding the rule of law, disrespecting the system of checks and balances, disregard for procedure, and ‘subverting’ democracy.

Votes of 42 MPs are required to pass the no-confidence motion against the speaker. Maseeh represents President Abdulla Yameen’s faction of PPM, which hold majority in parliament, with 54 MPs.

Majority Leader and Member of Parlaiment for Vilimale’ Constituency, Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik had warned the opposition the no-confidence motions “will be soundly defeated.”

However, speaking on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee program on Saturday night, MP for Dhiggaru constituency- son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and half-nephew of President Abdulla Yameen- said that the “united coalition” can take the majority of the Parliament and impeach the speaker.

Both former Presidents, Maumoon and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed expressed support for the motion filed at the parliament, with Nasheed stating that “it is encouraging to see the opposition and the vast majority of the ruling party PPM coming together on a single platform.”