Parliament seeks to wrest control of electoral body appointments
If the amendment is passed, the President's role in appointing a member to the EC will be only to officially appoint the person to the post.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) has proposed an amendment to the law to give the Parliament all the powers to appoint members to the Election Commission (EC).
Holhudhoo MP, Yoonus Ali, representing MDP, which has a clear majority in parliament, has moved to amend Election Commission Act. The first reading of the bill was heard in Monday's session.
Under the current Election Commission Act, the President has a major role in appointing an EC member to the post. Thus:
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Parliament must approve the member; however, the President has the power to choose the names for approval
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According to the letters of Article 4 of the Act, the President must make a public announcement before sending the names to Parliament, and it has been done through the President’s Office
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The law gives the President the power to send the names of the candidates he shortlists to Parliament for approval
Yoonus' amendment proposes that instead of the President's Office announcing and shortlisting candidates, Parliament should do the recruitment directly. His amendment explains:
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Whenever it is desired to appoint members or a member of the Commission, the Parliament secretariat shall announce the applications
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The Independent Institutions Committee shall consider the names of the respondents and send the name or names to the Parliament for approval
If the amendment is passed, the President's role in appointing a member to the EC will be only to officially appoint the person to the post once the name is chosen and approved by Parliament.
It will come into effect from the day the Bill becomes law and is published in the Gazette after ratification.
Curiously, MDP proposed such an amendment after a seat on the commission became vacant following the expiry of the term of Ismail Habeeb, who previously served as the Vice-President of the five-member EC. Meanwhile, the parliamentary elections are looming ahead.
