Deputy speaker: Maldives must rethink governance, roll out reforms

Maldives must rethink the current approach to governance and roll out reforms, says Ahmed Nazim, the deputy speaker of the country’s Parliament.

He made the remark at the inauguration of the 2024 Parliament Induction Program – a workshop run by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy – at CROSSROADS Maldives on Wednesday.

In an address after inaugurating the program, Nazim spoke about the work that must be done by the Parliament to push reforms.

“We need to rethink the approach to governance, make changes, make reforms, and revise some things,” he said.

Nazim appealed to all parliamentarians to execute their duties and fulfill their pledges.

He highlighted on the economic woes facing the Maldives, spoke about some of the reforms necessary to ascertain fiscal responsibility.

He also spoke about the need to take into account public sentiment when making laws.

Nazim also spoke about the importance of maintaining a system where the three powers of the state are separate.

He called on parliamentarians to improve the efficiency of the work of committees, maintain the Parliament’s oversight function, boost public participation in decision-making, and make decisions based on academic research.

“We must strive to maintain a Parliament that represents sentiments of the people in the truest sense of the word,” he said.

The induction program which began on Wednesday will see parliamentarians provided information in various areas to improve their efficiency.