As the parliament prepares to vote on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh on Monday, the opposition has filed a censure motion to oust his deputy Moosa Manik.
Similar to the censure motion against Maseeh, the motion to oust Manik is also headed by main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers and the MP faction loyal to ousted ruling party leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Manik had fallen out with MDP and was subsequently dismissed from the party for breaking a party whip line during a parliamentary vote. The outspoken lawmaker has since continued to heavily criticism the MDP leadership.
Parliament meanwhile has tabled the no confidence motion against speaker Maseeh on March 27.
Opposition parties have claimed that the motion was filed with signatures of 26 lawmakers while only 15 is the required number.
In addition to MDP, religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP), the motion has been backed by a few government lawmakers loyal to 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.
