Work underway to address issues in constitution, AG says
He stated that the initial amendment focuses on the parliamentary term, while other changes will depend on the outcome of the referendum.
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Attorney General Ahmed Usham has stated that the current Constitution contains gaps and that the government is working to address them.
Usham made the remarks on Saturday during a forum organised by the Bar Council ahead of a public referendum scheduled for the 4th of next month. The referendum will seek public opinion on a constitutional amendment to align presidential and parliamentary elections.
The forum included legal professionals involved in drafting the Constitution.
During the discussion, participants raised concerns regarding provisions that allow for the extension of the term of the People’s Majlis under certain conditions. Under Article 80, the Majlis may extend its term by up to one year if a state of emergency prevents the holding of an election.
Participants noted that such provisions could affect the outcome of the proposed changes if both elections are aligned.
In response, Usham said that if the public approves the proposal, further amendments will be introduced, including revisions to provisions such as Article 80.
He stated that the initial amendment focuses on the parliamentary term, while other changes will depend on the outcome of the referendum.
Usham said the government is reviewing the Constitution to identify areas for amendment.
“Based on my experience, there are gaps when reviewing the Constitution as a whole. These need to be addressed,” he said.
He added that amendments requiring public approval will be submitted through referendums, while other changes will be introduced as needed.
Some legal experts have raised concerns about the number of amendments proposed in recent periods. They stated that changes should be subject to consultation.
At the forum, Ahmed Muizzu, a member of the Special Majlis that drafted previous constitutions and a former Prosecutor General, raised similar concerns. Legal researcher Dr Shamsul Fallah also commented on the issue.
Former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has also stated that the Constitution was developed through consultation and that frequent changes could create complications.
