Constitutional amendment will end Parliament divide: Speaker

The opposition will no longer have the opportunity to divide Parliament due to the recently passed constitutional amendment stipulating that MPs who change parties, leave, or are expelled during the same term will lose their parliamentary seats, Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said.

The amendment, submitted by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid on behalf of the government, was passed yesterday with 78 votes in favor, while 13 MDP members voted against it. Constitutional amendments requiring at least 70 votes from the 83 sitting MPs. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu ratified the amendment yester shortly after Parliament passing the bill.