President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom Monday met with government coalition lawmakers ahead of the impending vote on the opposition led no-confidence motion against speaker Abdulla Maseeh.
Details of what was discussed remain unclear, but chief government lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik revealed that president Yameen had met the joint parliamentary group of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
"PPMMDA Joint PG with HEP Yamin Discussing the Issue of No- Confidence Motion Against Speaker Maseeh. IA we will fail the Opposition," the Villi-Maafannu MP said on Twitter.
Opposition parties have claimed that the motion was filed with signatures of 26 lawmakers while only 15 is the required number.
Parliament has tabled the motion on its agenda for Monday.
In addition to main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP), the motion has been backed by a few government lawmakers loyal to ousted ruling PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and former government coalition partner Jumhoory Party (JP).
Government meanwhile had expressed confidence of defeating the motion which requires a simple parliament majority.
Government lawmakers had also alleged that the politically motivated motion was designed for the personal political gain of a few.
