Bill on parliamentary elections passed

People’s Majlis on Tuesday passed the bill on parliamentary elections with 7 out of 11 amendments proposed.

The bill was passed with amendments proposed by seven member Majlis adhco committee tasked with scrutinizing the bill with 37 members voting in favor. There was no vote against the bill. With the passing on the bill, Majlis has passed the 2 bills submitted by the government. Majlis on Monday passed the bill on Parliamentary constituencies. The bills provide the necessary legal framework for the parliamentary elections called for in the constitution.

Most notable among the amendments passed on the bill on parliamentary elections are waiving the 50 signatories requirement imposed on candidates contesting parliamentary elections under the umbrella of political parties and imposing the requirement on independent candidates. Majlis, yesterday, rejected the amendment proposed by Raa member Shaheed Zaki and seconded by Male’ member Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) seeking to abolish the Rf.5000 deposit and requirement on 50 signatories.

Members yesterday deliberated on the difficulties that may be faced by independent candidates in complying the 50 signatories’ requirement. They also expressed that the Majlis endorsement preventing any changes to Election regulations may obstruct the work of the Election Commission.

Majlis, yesterday, also considered the report produced by the Majlis adhoc committee tasked with scrutinizing the names submitted by political parties for the vacant position in the 5 member Election Commission.

In presenting the committee’s report, committee chairperson Moosa Manik said all names proposed by the 3 parties are eligible but that most points were scored by Ifham Ahmed of National Alliance. However, Speaker of the Majlis Mohamed Shihab declared that a vote on the matter will be taken at a later date.

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