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Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the Maldives

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Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the Maldives
People's Majlis
Territorial extentMaldives
Enacted byPeople's Majlis
Enacted20 November 2024
Assented to byPresident Mohamed Muizzu
Assented to20 November 2024
Legislative history
Bill titleBill on amendment to the Constitution
Introduced byMohamed Shahid
Introduced20 November 2024
Status: Current legislation

The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the Maldives was amended on 20 November 2024. This amendment was met with widespread support and criticism from the Maldivian public and NGOs.

History

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The bill was sponsored on behalf of the government by Mohamed Shahid, a People's National Congress member.[1] The bill was passed at 20 November 2024, with an overwhelming majority of 78-13.[2] It was later signed into law in under nine hours by president Mohamed Muizzu in the same day.[3][4]

Amendments

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  • Subsection to Article 73: Added subsection e to Article 73 that removes a member of parliament if they defect from the political party they ticketed in, join a party after they were elected as an independent candidate, or voluntarily leave or expelled from that party.[3]
  • Subsection to Article 262(b): Requiring public referendum to confirm popular support for laws that changes the country's territory or for constitutional amendments passed by the parliament.[3]
  • Amendment to Article 3(a), 3(b): Any modification of the territory of the Maldives must be enacted through a law passed by three-fourths of all members of the parliament.[3]
  • Amendment to Article 115(e): Expand the president's powers, granting authority to determine key national policies, provide advice and guidance to state agencies, and formulate national development plans and strategic visions.[3]
  • Amendment to Article 251(c); Regulates the use of Maldivian territory for military use by non-nationals. use being only allowed through agreements or arrangements approved by a parliament majority, except for military exercises.[3]

Reactions

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Many supporters of the government praised the amendment, including president Muizzu, saying that it was "important decisions for the independence, sovereignty, development and stability of Maldives".[4][5]

Criticism

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The opposition had said that the bill ignored due process and without consulting with the public, and was submitted late at night so that there was no time for debating among parliament members.[4] Many NGOs made a joint press release, giving concern about this amendment and the hasty process this bill went through to get passed.[6] A case was filed in the Supreme Court seeking to annul the amendment, later which the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) joined.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ "Bill on amendment to the Constitution". People's Majlis. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Dhivehi Raajjeyge jumhooriyyaage gaanoon asaasee ah islaah genaumuge bill faaskurumah" (PDF). People's Majlis. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "President ratifies Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Maldives". The President's Office. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Constitution changed for the sake of the people "to ensure country's stability": Muizzu". Adhadhu. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. ^ The President's Office [@presidencymv] (21 November 2024). "މިއަދު ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުން ފާސްކޮށް ޤާނޫނު އަސާސީއަށް ގެނައި އިޞްލާޙުތަކަކީ ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޙައްޤުގައި، ރާއްޖޭގެ މިނިވަންކަމާ، ސިޔާދަތާ، ތަރައްޤީއާ، ހަމަޖެހުމަށްޓަކައި، ނުހަނު ޖޯޝާއެކު ޤައުމީ ރޫޙުގައި ނިންމެވި ވަރަށް މުހިންމު ނިންމެވުންތަކެއް. މިކަމަށްޓަކައި ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ މެންބަރުންނަށް ޝުކުރު އަދާކޮށް، ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންނަށް މަރްޙަބާ ދަންނަވަން - ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ" [The amendments to the Constitution passed by the Parliament today are very important decisions taken in the interest of the Maldivian people, for the independence, sovereignty, development and stability of the Maldives. I thank the Members of Parliament for this - President] (Tweet) (in Divehi). Retrieved 30 November 2024 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Joint Press Release - Concerns Over Amendments to the Constitution of the Maldives" (PDF). Transparency Maldives. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Case filed with Supreme Court to annul constitutional amendment to add anti-defection clauses". Sun. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  8. ^ Rehan, Mohamed (24 November 2024). "MDP to intervene anti-defection case at Supreme Court". Sun. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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