Parliament Secretary-General Fathimath Niusha has stated that since Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has excused himself from presiding over any Parliament sessions, the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla could not move forward as there is no one to preside over the sitting.

After disagreements between the ruling MDP and opposition members, Eva's no-confidence motion was the only item on the agenda for today.

However, the Speaker's chair remained vacant even after the sitting had begun.

Announcing that the parliament sitting could not continue today, Niusha noted that according to 205 (G) of the Parliament Regulation, the speaker must preside over the no-confidence motion of the Deputy Speaker.

After the no-confidence motion was scheduled for today, the parliament requested the Speaker to preside over the session. However, in a letter sent after the request, the Speaker excused himself from any duties of his role until the end of a no-confidence motion against him under 205 (G) of the Parliament Regulation.

Secretary General Fathimath Niusha announced on Tuesday morning that the sitting cannot proceed as a replacement speaker had not been determined.