Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla firmly refuted assertions regarding President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's influence over the People's Majlis, emphasising that Parliament operates independently according to its established protocols.

The clarification emerged during today's session after Kendhoo constituency MP Mauroof Zakir suggested that the President exercises control over both Parliament and its Speaker.

According to the Speaker, the People's Majlis functions strictly in accordance with its own established rules and principles. He indicated that claims regarding presidential control over Parliament and its leadership were without merit.

He drew attention to the Maldives' constitutional separation of powers, noting that the three branches of Government function independently without encroachment upon one another's authority.

The Speaker further observed that the parliamentary majority held by the President's party should not be misconstrued as presidential control over the legislative institution.

During the session, when MP Mauroof characterised Parliament members as "robots," the Speaker issued a reminder about maintaining respectful parliamentary discourse when addressing other members.