Parliament today rejected a bill seeking to restore Atoll Councils that were abolished under a recent constitutional amendment.

The bill, submitted by Galolhu South MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), proposed repealing the amendment and reinstating the councils.

Presenting the bill, MP Mohamed Ibrahim argued that the move to abolish Atoll Councils was part of broader governance changes proposed by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

He said the public had already rejected some of those proposals, including holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously, and had similarly opposed abolishing Atoll Councils.

The bill was rejected by 45 votes to eight, with 53 MPs in attendance.

Parliament had amended article 231 of the constitution in November last year to abolish Atoll Councils.

MDP MPs had raised concerns over the amendment at the time, warning of its impact on decentralized governance.