MDP proposes sweeping changes for judicial reform

A dramatic reduction of the Supreme Court’s powers is among sweeping changes proposed by the Maldivian Democratic Party to reform the judiciary.

The proposals were discussed at a campaign workshop held at the Brightway International School on Saturday to hammer out policies for the April 6 parliamentary elections. Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is among the party’s candidates, chaired the workshop and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih attended the last session.

Pursuing judicial reform was a key campaign pledge of President Solih with politicisation, inadequate qualification of judges, and lack of conformity to international fair trial standards among longstanding concerns.

According to a judicial reform policy paper presented by Hisaan Hussain, the MDP’s legal director and candidate for the Thulhaadhoo constituency, legislation would be proposed to restrict the Supreme Court’s authority.