Parliament passes constitutional amendment on MPs losing seats
The amendment also protects MPs who contested independently but joined the PNC before the parliamentary term began.
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Parliament on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment proposed by the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC), detailing specific circumstances under which a Member of Parliament (MP) would lose their seat.
The amendment, proposed by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, the PNC Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader, was introduced during Wednesday’s morning sitting and referred to a committee of the whole parliament.
The committee met at 12:30 pm for two hours and approved the bill with key amendments from the government. A subsequent session at 5:30 pm saw the bill passed as recommended by the committee, with 78 members voting in favour and 13 opposing.
The constitutional amendment required the support of three-fourths of the 93 members of parliament, or 70 members, to pass.
The amendment outlines four circumstances under which an MP can lose their seat:
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If an MP elected on a party ticket withdraws from the party they represent.
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If an MP joins another political party during their term.
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If an MP is expelled from their party in accordance with legal provisions.
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If an independent MP joins a political party during their term.
During the sitting, opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem proposed alternative amendments. These included:
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MPs losing their seats if they switch parties or sign up for a party after being elected independently.
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Constituency-level referendum or petitions from constituents to remove MPs.
These proposals were rejected, with 77 members voting against and 13 in favour.
The PNC also proposed additional amendments during the committee stage:
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Changing the requirement for altering the country’s economic zones from a two-thirds majority to a three-fourths majority in parliament.
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2Mandating public consultation before any changes to economic zones are made.
MDP members protested the bill during the morning sitting, raising concerns about the speed of the amendments and the implications for party autonomy. Members highlighted concerns that the changes could allow party leadership to influence MPs by threatening their membership status.
Despite the protests, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla put the committee-approved bill to a vote, and it passed with the required majority.
The amendment also protects MPs who contested independently but joined the PNC before the parliamentary term began. Approximately 10 independent MPs signed up with the PNC following the 20th parliament elections.
The ruling PNC has defended the amendment, asserting that it ensures clarity in membership rules while safeguarding MPs from losing their seats due to technicalities. The opposition has criticised the move as a potential tool for controlling political dissent.
