MDP has said that not proceeding with the no-confidence motion against the Speaker when it was on the agenda for parliament is against the constitution and the rules of the Parliament and at a time when the beginning of the new presidential term is nearing, the parliament will not be allowed to function in violation of the rules of the parliament.

Though the no-confidence motion against the Speaker was scheduled for Sunday, questions have been raised over whether the day's proceedings could go ahead as the Deputy Speaker has been unwell.

According to the Constitution and rules of parliament, the Deputy Speaker of the parliament should preside over a no-confidence motion against the speaker. If the Deputy Speaker does not turn up, the rules of the parliament do not specify the next step.

A no-confidence motion against the Speaker will be sent to the Speaker and members of the parliament and after the matter is referred to the parliament, any other issue raised in the parliament at that time can be debated or decided only after a decision has been taken on the motion for removal of the Speaker.

MDP had earlier stated that the party would not accept the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu without taking a decision on the no-confidence motion against the speaker as it was illegal for the parliament to proceed with it.

The Democrats and PPM/PNC have accused MDP of trying to block president Muizzu's swearing-in.

In a statement issued on Thursday, MDP said that the speaker of the parliament was trying to prevent the no-confidence motion from proceeding in violation of the constitution and the rules of the parliament.

"The speaker's post cannot last unless he has the support and confidence of these MPs. The party believes that the position should be held by someone who believes in democratic values and is capable of contesting even a vote of no confidence. The best thing for a speaker who doesn't have the confidence of the members is to walk away from the Chair," MDP said.

MDP said the party would not allow parliament to function in violation of the rules of parliament by subverting the constitutional authority at a time when the beginning of the new presidential term is nearing. The party wants to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony of the president-elect and vice-president-elect is not likely to be legally questioned and will do everything necessary to ensure that the integrity of the meeting is not legally questionable. the party said in a statement.

The party also demanded that the no-confidence motion against the Speaker be taken up in accordance with the Constitution, rules of the parliament and democratic norms and the matter should be settled by the vote of the members.