‘Democrats is proposing a low-budget parliament with full representation’

The Democrats’ parliamentary group leader, Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim has that the amendments submitted to the law by the party to change the composition of the parliament proposes are low-budget parliament with full-representation of all citizens.

Azim told Sun on Thursday that the party had considered issues arising from the current composition of the parliament while drawing up its proposal.

On this note, he stressed that the existing composition of the parliament led to increased expenses.

“A large number of members were elected to the parliament from the 17^th parliament. The incoming parliament will have 93 members. An increase of 16 members have been observed within this period,” he said.

“Not only their salaries, but their pension and allowances will also thereby be added to the expense,” he added.

Azim described Maldives as the nation with the largest number of parliamentary members in comparison to its population.

The parliament group leader of Democrats also stressed the party’s amendment included solution to issues arising from the current composition of the parliament.

He highlighted one such issue as parts of some islands being conjoined with others to form a constituency. The solution Azim said Democrats had proposed was for parliament members to represent atolls.

Seats have been allocated for atolls in the amendment based on the population of the respective atoll.

It was also proposed to limit the number of parliament members to 76. These 76 members will be elected as follows;

• 55 members from the atolls
• 11 members from the national list of political parties
• Eight seats allocated to women
• Two seats allocated for persons with disabilities

The number of seats for each party from the members elected from the national list of parties will be subject to the number of votes received by the parties in the election. The female members will be elected after dividing the Maldives into four regions; thereby, two female members from each region.

Azim said important changes are expected to the amendment during the committee changes.

Six additional constituencies will be added to the parliament in the parliamentary election scheduled for next year. They are;

• Hithaadhoo constituency comprising of Hithaadhoo, Maalhos and Dharavandhoo
• Huraa constituency comprising of Huraa, Himmafushi and Gulhi
• Kolamaafushi constituency comprising of Kolamaafushi and Dhevvadhoo
• North Feydhoo constituency comprising of Feydhoo and Maradhoo Feydhoo
• Central Hulhumale’ constituency
• North Hulhumale’ constituency