Constitutional amendment proposes fixed number of MPs

Ahmed Amir, MP for Kudahuvadhoo Constituency, has proposed a constitutional amendment which, if passed, would fix the number of members of the People’s Majlis at 85.

Amir, who is the Deputy Leader of MDA, proposed the same amendment to the 17th Majlis as well. However, the Majlis did not attend the bill.

Under Article 71(A) of the Constitution, number of MPs would keep on rising in accord with a given formula as the populations of constituencies grow.

Under the amendment proposal, each constituency would be represented by one MP.

MP Amir said that in a country with a population of about 400,000, it is very much a concern if the Legislature keeps on getting larger in size.

“If the Legislature continues to have additional members every 5 years, that is going to be harmful to the administrative system of the country as well as the economy”, said Amir.

Amir also said that it is not the best system for a power-separated democratic system if the number of MPs rises higher than 85.