The Parliament Speaker and the former President Mohamed Nasheed has decided not to preside over the sessions of the Parliament until a decision is taken on the no confidence motions.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Parliament, President Nasheed refused to preside over the sessions of the Parliament until a decision is taken on the no-confidence motion against him, submitted by MDP members.

In the letter, President Nasheed further said that although he will not preside over the Parliament sessions, he will continue to conduct other matters as stipulated in the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. He also highlighted that he have the option of stepping aside from presiding over the upcoming sessions.

President Nasheed also said he would not do anything that would interfere with the responsibilities and duties of the Secretary-General while the no-confidence motion was pending.

According to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament shall preside over the session in which a resolution to remove the Speaker from the Parliament is scheduled or has been moved. Under Article 206 of the Rules, the Speaker shall preside over a session in which a resolution to remove the Vice-Speaker from the Parliament is scheduled or has been moved.

Meanwhile, no-confidence motion against the Speaker and Vice-Speaker has now been moved.