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10-year gap required after giving up foreign citizenship for all candidates: bill

Shaina Abdulla
25 June 2018, MVT 16:13
PPM Rumaalu 2 jalsa / PPM Campaign / PPM Parliamentary group - Nihan
Shaina Abdulla
25 June 2018, MVT 16:13

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has proposed an amendment to condition Maldivian citizenship of 10 consecutive years to all candidates in the run for presidency.

The amendment proposed by PPM parliamentary group (PG) leader and Villimale MP Ahmed Nihan, states that candidates must have a 10-year gap from their citizenships in other countries, in order to contest in the presidential elections.

Article 109 of the Constitution states that a candidate running for presidency must be a Maldivian citizen born to parents who are Maldivian citizens, and is also not a citizen of a foreign country. However, the Constitution does not state a fixed period to give up citizenship in a foreign country prior to the candidacy run.

Nihan declared that the amendment was proposed to maintain sovereignty in the country and to ensure that no foreign countries can influence the Maldives.

In addition to the amendment to qualifications for election as President, government has also proposed amendments to the Elections clause of the Constitution.

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