Maldives enacts law to abolish parties less than 10,000 members

In a historic move the People’s Majlis passed for a second time a bill on political parties which restrict registration of political parties which do not have minimum 10,000 members. The bill which was passed by the Majlis earlier was sent to the President for ratification, but the President refused to ratify the bill and returned it to the Majlis suggesting it needed to be further studied by the Majlis because of its deprivation of some rights the Constitution guarantees on the people.

Smaller parties have bitterly criticized the Majlis saying the bill was a selfish motive of bigger political parties to get rid of smaller parties from the political spectrum. They vowed legal action will be taken to challenge the bill. President Waheed’s Gaumy Ithehad party, his adviser Dr. Hassan Saeed’s Gaumy Party are among the parties which face abolition unless they get 10,000 membership in three months time.

In yesterday’s meeting of the Majlis, when members debated on the bill, most members said they believe the bill was extensively debated and drafted on the basis of diverse views and opinions and therefore is worthy of being enacted as it is. But few members representing smaller parties blamed bigger parties that bigger parties are influenced by their self interests. A member who supported the bill responded saying if the bigger parties were supporting the bill for their personal interest, then President Waheed, who has a small party facing abolition has returned the bill also with the same motive.

The bill was passed at yesterdays’s meeting with 70 members in favour, 1 abstaining and 6 against it. According to the Constitution when a bill passed by the Majlis is not ratified and returned to the Majlis shall only become law when the Majlis pass it again. With yesterday’s passing of the Political Party Bill by the Majlis for the second time, it becomes law immediately without needing to be ratified by the President.

There are 16 political parties registered in the Elections Commission to date. Among the parties which already have more than 10,000 members are Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP 46,112,  Progressive Party of Maldives, PPM 22,824, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, DRP 21,982, Jumhoory Party, JP, 12,431, Adaalath Party with 10600 members. President Waheed’s Gaumy Ithehad also had a rapid increase in membership recently having 4,012 members but is short of the magic number.

The Majlis also passed yesterday for the second tome the bill on the powers and Immunity of the Majlis which was returned by the President without ratifying it. The bill was passed by 41 votes in favor and 25 against. This bill also becomes law from now onwards.