Parliament passes lowering number of local council members

The amendment submitted to Parliament to reduce the number of Local Council councilors who are to be elected in next year's election has passed.

The amendment submitted by Inguraidhoo Ibrahim Falah was passed with 54 MP's voting in favor and  11 MDP MP's against.

As per the amendment, only three councilors will be elected for islands with a population less than 2,000. Five councilors will be elected for islands with a population more than 2,000. Islands with three councilors are to have one female councilor, while islands with five councilors are to have two female councilors.

As the law stands, islands with a population less than 3,000 are to have five councilors, and islands with a population more than 3,000 are to have seven councilors.

Along with island councils, the bill includes the number of councilors for Male City Council and Fuvahmulah City Council.

Male City Council is to have 16 members. The council currently has 19 councilors.

The amendment states that along with the Mayor, Fuvahmulah City Council is to have 8 members. The city is to have 8 members as the city is made up of 8 districts.

Even though the amendment does not state the number of council members in Addu City Council, Thinadhoo City Council and Kulhudhuffushi City Council, the next city councils that take office in the aforementioned cities will have seven councilors including the Mayor. This is done by taking population numbers into account.