First reading of Bill on presidency age limit conducted at Parliament

The first reading of the Bill to amend the Constitution to allow eligibility for people over the age of 65 years for presidency has been conducted at the Parliament this Monday morning.

The new Maldivian Constitution originally did not have a maximum age limit for presidential candidacy. It only stipulated that a candidate for presidency and vice presidency must be above 35 years of age.

The first amendment to the age limit was made in the early years in President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration. The age limit for presidency and vice presidency was lowered to 30 years, allowing Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – who had been Minister of Tourism at the time – to be appointed Vice President.

The 35-65-year age cap was put in place through a second amendment to the Constitution submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in 2015.

The second amendment put Leader of Jumhoory Party (JP) Qasim Ibrahim and former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom out of contention for presidency.

The current Bill to amend the age limit to presidency was submitted to the Parliament by PPM parliamentarian, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah.

Another PPM parliamentarian has announced he will be submitting a Bill to annul the provisions added to the Constitution by PPM to allow foreigners to own land in Maldives.

Both changes to the Constitution at the time were opposed by the current government coalition which now holds Parliament majority.

Any amendment to the Constitution requires 2/3 majority of the Parliament.