Parliament changes rules to allow resolutions to be rejected without debate

Parliament has amended its rules of procedure to require a vote on whether to accept a resolution before allowing MPs to debate it, enabling resolutions to be rejected without discussion if they fail to secure majority support.

The amendment was approved on Monday with votes from 56 MPs of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), while 11 MPs from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against it.

Under the previous version of Article 191 of Parliament's rules of procedure, MPs were given an opportunity to debate a resolution before voting on whether to accept it for consideration.

The amended provision reverses that process, requiring Parliament to first vote on whether to accept a resolution.

If a resolution fails to secure majority support, it will be rejected immediately without being debated.

The amendment also prevents MPs from submitting resolutions on subjects already scheduled for debate in Parliament.

The changes were proposed by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakuru, an independent lawmaker who has previously submitted amendments sought by the government.

The proposal was submitted on Saturday and unanimously endorsed by Parliament's General Committee on Wednesday.

Following the submission of the committee's report to Parliament, Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim, also known as Kudoo, of the MDP proposed removing the provision that would prevent debate before the acceptance vote.

However, his amendment was rejected after 55 PNC MPs voted against it.

Parliament subsequently approved the changes to its rules of procedure with 56 votes in favour and 11 against.

The MDP has frequently submitted resolutions seeking parliamentary scrutiny of government decisions and issues raised by members of the public.

Under the amended rules, such resolutions will not proceed to debate unless they first receive the support of a parliamentary majority.

With the PNC holding a majority in Parliament, the ruling party will be able to prevent resolutions from being debated by voting against their acceptance.

MDP MPs raised concerns during the parliamentary proceedings, arguing that the changes would restrict opportunities for the opposition to raise issues in Parliament.

PNC MPs defended the amendment, describing resolutions submitted by the opposition as unnecessary and arguing that measures were needed to prevent such submissions.

PNC parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah, who represents Inguraidhoo, previously said following the General Committee's approval of the amendment that the MDP would no longer be given opportunities to submit resolutions in Parliament.

Falah said opposition MPs should instead submit resolutions thanking the government for its work or raising matters such as money held in the accounts of former government officials.

He said the ruling party would allow such resolutions to proceed through a parliamentary vote.

"We will give them the opportunity to submit resolutions by voting here. Otherwise, they will not be given any opportunity in the future," Falah said.

The changes come amid disagreements between the government and opposition over parliamentary scrutiny of government decisions, including the agreement to allocate 500 hectares of reclaimed land in Ras Malé to UAE-based Eagle Hills.

The amended rules mean that resolutions seeking to examine such matters can now be rejected before MPs have an opportunity to debate their contents.