Parliament passes to hold local council by-elections biannually

Parliament, on Wednesday, has passed the amendments to the Decentralization Act and Local Council Elections Act to resolve the issue of incessant by-elections as a result of increased vacancy of council member seats.

The amendment to the Decentralization Act was passed with the votes of 67 MPs.  Seven MPs voted against adopting the amendment. The amendment to the Local Council Elections Act was also passed with the votes of 67 MPs. However, eight MPs voted against adopting the amendment.

The law currently mandates holding the by-election within 60 days of a local council seat becoming vacant.

On the contrary, the new amendment states Local Government Authority (LGA) must notify the Elections Commission (EC) within 14 days of the local council seat becoming vacant and that the by-election to elect a new member must be held within 183 days.

Main opposition MDP was against the amendment, citing councils must consist of an adequate number of members.

In this regard, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zahir, who represents MDP, accused the government of attempting to disempower local councils by decreasing the number of councilors during the debate on the Decentralization Committee’s report on the amendments. He said the party cannot support decreasing by-elections and appealed to reconsider the matter.

EC has expressed concern on multiple occasions over the high expenses arising from elections being held so close to each other.

EC’s President Fuad Thaufeeq has previously cited merging the elections as a solution to this, such as merging the local council elections and the parliamentary elections.