MDP, The Democrats to join lawsuit to quash new constitution amendment

Opposition parties Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats have decided to join a lawsuit at the Supreme Court aiming to overturn the recent amendments the Constitution.

The lawsuit was filed by Kendhoo MP and lawyer Ali Hussain. However, the Supreme Court is yet to decide on whether to accept the case or not.

As per the amendment, MPs who leave or are removed from the party they contested with during parliamentary elections will lose their parliamentary seats if the switch occurs within the same term. Additionally, the amendment stipulates that if an independent MP joins a political party, they will also lose their seat.

In a statement issued by MDP today, the party said that they decided to join Ali Hussain's lawsuit because the Constitution was amended to deprive the people of their right to elect representatives to the Parliament.

The Democrats also said that the amendment strips lawmakers of their constitutionally guaranteed privileges, and that the amendment would depend the continuity or elimination of these electoral positions on a committee appointed by a political party.

The party further wrote that it would bring the separation of the government's three powers to a stop, and plunge the country into a legal vacuum, concentrating all powers to a single party.

Both parties said they are working with their respective legal teams to join in on the lawsuit.