Committee OK’s MPs losing seats for floor crossing without referendum

The Parliament’s Whole House Committee on Monday approved removing the need for a constituency-based referendum to determine if a lawmaker should lose their seat upon changing political parties, maintaining a system in which seats are automatically vacated in such cases.

The incumbent parliamentary assembly amended the constitution last year, adding three more circumstances where lawmakers will lose their seats. They are: if they switch parties during their term, are expelled from their party, or if an independent member joins a political party.

A new government-backed amendment was submitted to the Parliament by ruling PNC deputy parliamentary group leader and Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau on November 16^th – seeking to expand the conditions under which lawmakers will lose their seats.

In this regard, under the proposed amendment, if a lawmaker leaves the party under which they were elected, a constituency-based referendum decides whether they lose their seats. While the amendment was backed by some ruling party lawmakers, others were against it.

During Monday’s Whole-House Committee meeting to review the amendment, PNC’s Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdhooh proposed to omit the requirement of a constituency-based referendum to remove a lawmaker who switches party. The proposal was backed by PNC’s South Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi (IB).

Subsequently, Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla asked for a vote regarding the proposed change, which was backed by 50 lawmakers in attendance. Eight lawmakers voted against this, while two lawmakers abstained.

Another vote was asked regarding passing the amendment with the proposed changes. The amendment was passed after omitting the constituency-based referendum requirement. The amendment was approved with the votes of 50 lawmakers in attendance, with 10 lawmakers voting against it.

Notably, the controversial amendment to the constitution, which added new circumstances where lawmakers will lose their seats, was passed in quick succession by the PNC-dominated Parliament on November 20^th. President Muizzu ratified the amendment on the same day.

While a petition has been filed with the Supreme Court to revoke the amendments, the case remains stalled in the top court.