02 Nov 2018, 9:00 AM
Parliament Thursday night passed approved the repeal of an anti-defection law that penalises floor crossing by stripping lawmakers of their seats.
Thirty-seven MPs voted in favour of abolishing the law, 17 voted against, and five abstained.
The anti-defection law effectively gave political parties the power to unseat lawmakers. It triggered the automatic removal of MPs who get expelled or resign from their party.
The bill to repeal was proposed by MP Riyaz Rasheed, the deputy parliamentary group leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, who was among pro-government lawmakers who voted to pass the anti-defection law in March.
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