Majority and minority parties back to pass bill on political parties' today

Majority holder in Parliament, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has proposed that the bill on political parties', which states that all political parties with a membership count of below 10,000 will be automatically abolished within three months of its ratification, to be passed without any amendments by the Parliament today . The proposition was supported by the minority party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The President sent the bill on political parties' back to the Parliament for reconsideration without ratification. It will be automatically ratified if it receives more than 39 votes, without any amendments.

During the debate following the reading of the letter sent by the President asking that the Parliament reconsider the bill, MDP Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader and Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed proposed that the bill be passed without any amendments and said that the bill will be ratified if it receives 39 votes.

The bill was passed with a total of 64 votes last year, voted by all three major parties; MDP, Dhivehi Riyyithunge Party (DRP) and PPM.

MDP’s proposition to pass the bill without any amendments was supported by PPM Parliamentary Group Member and Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla. He said that the political parties' bill has to ratified by the Parliament today and that further amendments can be made after it has been ratified.

The Speaker has announced that the amendments proposed to the bill be asked for vote at 13:30 today.

Four members opposed the political parties’ bill when it was reviewed and submitted to the Parliament of floor asked for vote on the 27th of December last year. The bill was opposed by the member of the latest political party to formed in the country, the party’s leader and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir, Adhaalath Party Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutholib, and Gaumee Party Vilufushee MP Riyaz Rasheed.

If the Parliament decides to pass the political parties' bill, the parties will be allowed a duration of 3 months to increase their membership up to 10,000 members. Failure to reach the 10,000 member mark result in the party being abolished.