Speaker of the Parliament, Qasim Ibrahim has stated that he hasn’t done anything unconstitutional through the parliament and he will never do it.
Speaking at a press conference held at JP’s HQ, Qasim expressed sadness because President Solih stated that the parliament is not cooperating with the government as per the coalition agreement.
Qasim stated that he cannot allow the parliament to engage in unlawful activities especially after assuming the position as speaker after advocating against the unlawful conduct of the parliament. He said that he will never do it.
Responding to former President Nasheed’s statement about a coup happening if MDP do not get the majority of the parliament, Qasim said that if there is a coup it will be instigated by Nasheed himself. Qasim said that Nasheed told him that he cannot wait for 5 years and wants to assume the presidency sooner than that.
Qasim pointed out that it is Nasheed who wants to become a prime minister after changing the system to a parliamentary system and his aim is to assume the position of head of state before the end of President Solih’s term. In addition he said that even if Nasheed says that he lost his presidency due to a coup, it was not a coup and if there was a coup Nasheed brought it himself. Qasim said that, it happened because Nasheed did not know how to manage the country and Qasim noted that even when the courts asked to pay back the salary of civil servants withheld by the government, Nasheed’s government refused to give it back.
Furthermore, he said that he will never put any issue that is unconstitutional on the agenda of the parliament. “if they propose to amend the constitutional, I will do it even if by conducting the sessions for 24 hours. However, it is not possible to change the term of a position which is mentioned in the constitution without amending the constitution” said Qasim.
