Recent constitutional amendments ‘crucial’ for Maldives’ stability, says President

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu defended the contentious constitutional amendments enacted on Wednesday, describing them as crucial for Maldives’ stability.

The constitutional amendments were submitted, passed and ratified in quick succession on Wednesday.

In a video message on Wednesday evening, President Muizzu said that the amendments would strengthen Maldives’ independence and sovereignty whilst creating a framework for national stability.

The amendments made include ones regarding Maldives’ territory. With the changes, it now requires the approval of a three-quarters majority of the Parliament to make any modifications to Maldives territory, the country's maritime territory can now be defined up to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and any changes to these territorial boundaries will require both a three-quarters majority in the Parliament and approval through a public referendum, and parliamentary approval is required before any foreign military personnel can be deployed within Maldivian territory.

An additional amendment expanded the President's powers, granting authority to determine key national policies, provide advice and guidance to state agencies, and formulate national development plans and strategic visions.

But the main point of contention is regarding the inclusion of anti-defection provisions in the Constitution to prevent floor crossing, by adding three more circumstances where parliamentarians will lose their seat. They are:

• If a parliamentarian resigns from or is dismissed or expelled from the party they were elected on behalf of
• If a parliamentarian switches parties or is dismissed or expelled from a party
• If an independent parliamentarian joins a party

But President Muizzu said the inclusion of anti-defection provisions is crucial for the country’s stability.

“This decision by the members of the People’s Majlis is actually crucial to establishing national stability,” he said.

މިއަދު ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުން ފާސްކޮށް ޤާނޫނު އަސާސީއަށް ގެނައި އިޞްލާޙުތަކަކީ ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޙައްޤުގައި، ރާއްޖޭގެ މިނިވަންކަމާ، ސިޔާދަތާ، ތަރައްޤީއާ، ހަމަޖެހުމަށްޓަކައި، ނުހަނު ޖޯޝާއެކު ޤައުމީ ރޫޙުގައި ނިންމެވި ވަރަށް މުހިންމު ނިންމެވުންތަކެއް. މިކަމަށްޓަކައި… pic.twitter.com/k9JJO2amh1

— The President's Office (@presidencymv) November 20, 2024

Concluding his video message, President Muizzu said that the constitutional amendments were critical decisions made based on national interest.

“These amendments are critical decisions made for the sake of the people in order to safeguard the country’s independence, sovereignty, development and stability. These decisions were made by the honorable members of the People’s Majlis with patriotic fervor and in national interest,” he said.

The legislature was passed by the Parliament, of which the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority, amid protests by parliamentarians from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – who hold just a dozen seats in the 93-member Parliament.

MDP said they aren’t opposed to anti-defection provisions in principle. But they do not believe it should apply to parliamentarians who are expelled. They also object to the lack of extensive consultation and debate before making constitutional amendments.

Amendments proposed by the MDP to stipulate that parliamentarians expelled from their parties can only be removed after a public vote were rejected.

Anti-government protestors had also gathered outside the Parliament to demonstrate against the bill, and clashes erupted after they were confronted by pro-government protestors, before the police intervened and separated the two groups.

The passage of the bill had also come after the Bar Council asked the Parliament for a chance to consult on the legislature, citing that council members as well as the larger legal community had certain concerns regarding the bill.

However, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the chairperson of the PNC, said that the bill did not require public consultation.