President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Anti-Defection constitutional amendment, a landmark decision mandating that Members of Parliament (MPs) who leave, switch, or are dismissed from their political parties will lose their parliamentary seats.
The amendment, submitted by Hulhudhoo constituency MP Mohamed Shahid from the People's National Congress (PNC), outlines the following provisions:
- MPs elected through political parties will lose their seats if they:
- Resign from their party.
- Join another party.
- Are expelled from their party.
- Independent MPs who join a political party during their term will also lose their seats.
Additional Amendments Ratified
The ratification process also included two other significant amendments:
- Changes to Article 262(b) requiring public opinion for amendments to key constitutional provisions.
- Stricter regulations on the presence of foreign troops and the allocation of Maldivian territory for foreign military purposes.
Speedy Passage
The Anti-Defection bill was introduced earlier today and was swiftly debated, forwarded to the Parliament Committee, and passed in under an hour. The amendment required at least 70 votes from the 83-member Parliament. It received overwhelming support:
- 78 MPs voted in favor.
- 13 MPs opposed the amendment.
This marks the fastest constitutional amendment in Maldivian history.
Implications
The Anti-Defection amendment aims to uphold political stability and discourage party-hopping by ensuring MPs remain loyal to their respective political affiliations. With these new regulations, the government seeks to foster accountability and public trust in the political system.
