President Muizzu ratifies bills to abolish Atoll councils and reduce council membership

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu today ratified two Bills: one to amend the Constitution to abolish Atoll Councils, and another to amend the Decentralization Act to reduce the number of Council members.

The constitutional amendment bill, sponsored by PNC member and MP for Baarashu constituency Ibrahim Shujau, stipulates that Atoll Councils will be dissolved upon the conclusion of their current term.

Additionally, the amendment to the Decentralization Act, proposed by PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and MP for Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah, mandates that the number of elected Council members in islands with a population of fewer than 2,000 people will be reduced to three.

However, the amendment specifies that islands with a larger population will elect five Council members.

The bill also reduces the number of Malé City Council members to 16, and stipulates that Fuvahmulah City Council will have eight members, including the Mayor.

Although the bill did not specifically mandate the number of members for Addu City Council, Thinadhoo City Council, and Hdh. Kulhudhuffushi City Council, based on population ratio, each of these councils will have seven members, including the Mayor.

Both Bills were recently passed by the People's Majlis and were ratified by the President today.

Consequently, the upcoming local council elections will be conducted based on the new provisions in these amendments.

When the bill to abolish Atoll Councils was initially proposed, it included a provision to change the process of floor-crossing for Majlis members: requiring a referendum (vote of no confidence/confidence) among the constituency's people to unseat an MP who changes parties. However, this clause was removed by the committee during the review process.