Changes to JSC and MP limit to be proposed soon: AG Usham

Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said the government will soon submit constitutional amendments to address issues related to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the growing number of members of parliament.

In a post on X, Usham said there is broad agreement that issues exist within the Constitution and that reforms are needed.

He said the government plans to introduce three amendments in parliament as part of the reform effort:

The government has already proposed an amendment to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously. As the Constitution requires a public referendum for this change, the vote will be held alongside the upcoming local council elections.

Former judge Husnu Suood has criticized the decision to hold the referendum at the same time as the council elections, arguing that major constitutional issues should be debated more clearly and separately.

Responding to the criticism, Usham said the reason for the reform process is clear.

“Of the proposed amendments to the Constitution, this amendment directly requires a referendum before it comes into force. The other amendments do not require a public vote,” he said.

He added that holding the referendum together with the local council elections would significantly reduce costs.

According to Usham, conducting a separate nationwide referendum would cost at least MVR 80 million, while combining it with the council elections would reduce the expense substantially and ease pressure on the state budget.

“The next amendments to the Constitution will be submitted to parliament soon. Final discussions are under way,” he said.

The government is campaigning in favour of holding the two major elections together, while the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is campaigning against the proposal.

MDP has also filed a constitutional case at the High Court seeking to stop the referendum. The court has not yet ruled on the case.