Parliament

MDP MPs clamour for Nasheed’s release as parliament resumes after recess

Shortly after today’s sitting began at 9:00am, MDP MPs started chanting “Free President Nasheed” and held up banners that read, “Free President Nasheed in line with the UN decision.” The People’s Majlis reconvened for its third and final session of the year today after a one-month recess.

Explicit presidential power to pardon former state officials proposed

Independent MP Mahloof proposed amendments to the Clemency Act to grant legal authority for President Yameen to pardon or commute sentences of convicted former presidents, vice presidents, cabinet ministers, MPs, and Supreme Court Justices.

MDP MPs protest in parliament against former President Nasheed’s ‘illegal arrest’

Today’s sitting of parliament was adjourned amid protests by main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs over former President Mohamed Nasheed’s transfer back to jail from house arrest last night.

Official accused of corruption appointed to human rights watchdog

The parliament today appointed a former government official accused of defrauding the state of MVR24million (US$1.55million) to the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).

PPM MP proposes authority for president to alter penalties for convicts

The parliament today accepted for consideration changes proposed to the Clemency Act to grant authority to the president to alter the type of punishment for convicts.

State to allocate office space for PPM and MDP

The parliament today amended the Political Parties Act, mandating the state to allocate office space or plots of land to political parties with more than 20,000 members.

Committee sets 10,000-member threshold for political party funding

The parliament’s independent institutions committee has approved amendments proposed to the Political Parties Act to set a threshold of 10,000 registered members for political parties to be eligible for state funding.

Majlis approves ex MP of ruling party to human rights watchdog

The parliament today approved former MP Shifaq Mufeed, Aishath Afreen Mohamed, and Aminath Eenas to the Human Rights of Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

Street protests could be labeled terrorism by new bill, contends MDP

In a document listing issues of concern with the draft legislation the MDP argued that the definition of terrorism is too broad and could be used as a catch-all provision.

Opposition MPs concerned over failure to summon ministers for questioning

At today’s sitting, MDP MPs representing constituencies in Addu City, Rozaina Adam and Ali Nizar, raised points of order and noted that ministers have not appeared for questioning despite a backlog of queries submitted by opposition MPs dating back to the first session of year.

Parliament approves five nominees to tax authority’s board

The parliament today approved five nominees proposed by President Abdulla Yameen to the board of the tax authority, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).

Parliament rejects bills proposed by opposition MPs

The parliament has rejected two pieces of legislation submitted by main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs on imposing price controls for staple foodstuffs and dissolving inactive companies.

Terrorism bill could suppress political activity, warn opposition MPs

The draft legislation states that inciting violence at demonstrations and threatening the country’s independence and sovereignty will be considered acts of terrorism and specifies penalties of up to 25 years in jail.

Majlis approves foreign freeholds in second amendment to constitution

Some 70 MPs voted to allow foreigners to own land in the Maldives. Opposing MPs expressed concern over lack of public debate and say the amendments paves the way for Chinese military expansion in the Maldives. The second constitutional amendment was approved within 24 hours of it being submitted to the Majlis.

Majlis votes overwhelming ‘Yes’ to Adeeb

Parliament impeaches Vice President Dr Jameel in absentia

PPM MPs slam Commonwealth ‘bullying’ as opposition MPs warn against isolation

President Abdulla Yameen had sought parliament’s counsel on the country’s membership of the Commonwealth following lobbying efforts for an assessment of Maldives’ alleged violations of the organisation’s principles with the imprisonment of opposition politicians, including former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Quitting Commonwealth will be “a huge mistake,” says vice president

“We should never allow the heat of politics to cause long lasting damage to national interests,” vice president Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed said ahead of a parliament debate on quitting the Commonwealth today.

Bill proposes criminalizing ‘expressions contrary to national interest and Islamic tenets’

A draft freedom of expression legislation – obtained by Minivan News – states that four types of “expressions contrary to national interest” will constitute criminal offences: encouraging harm to a person or damage to private party, calling for the illegal overthrow of the government, threatening the country’s independence, sovereignty, and security, and accusing a person of committing a hadd offence without conclusive evidence.

Rules on removal and appointment of vice president changed

A committee has approved changes to the People’s Majlis standing orders to offer the vice president just 30 minutes to respond to an impeachment motion, and proposed changes to fast-track the process of voting on a nominee to fill a vacancy in the vice president’s post.