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Institutions requested President appoint heads: Habeeb

Human Rights Commission of Maldives member Ismail Habeeb has said that it is the independent institutions themselves who requested that the laws be amended to allow the President to appoint leaders of the institutions.

Mariyath Mohamed
30 October 2024, MVT 10:59
ec islmail habeeb
Mariyath Mohamed
30 October 2024, MVT 10:59

Human Rights Commission of Maldives member Ismail Habeeb has said that it is the independent institutions themselves who requested that the laws be amended to allow the President to appoint leaders of the institutions.

The government has proposed amendments to the Elections Commission Act and Anti Corruption Commission Act to grant the President the authority to appoint presidents and vice presidents to these commissions. This has been met with criticism from the opposition, who state that this will compromise the independence of the institutions.

Habeeb, who has previously served as the Vice President of the Elections Commission, said in a post on X that this amendment had been proposed in a paper submitted in 2023 to then President, Attorney General and Parliament's Committee on Independent Institutions jointly by the ACC, EC, HRCM and CSC members.

Habeeb emphasized that this is the norm in 'developed countries such as the USA'.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu also posted on X, stating that he has never, and will not in the future, influence independent institutions or elected officials in any way.

On the other hand, the government will continue to propose necessary changes to the laws to ensure the institutions are designed to work justly, fairly, without discrimination at a swift space, he said.

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