Amendments proposed for former presidents to forfeit privileges if they leave office against the law

Amendments have been proposed to the Act on privileges and protection provided to former presidents, such that they will not be entitled to financial privileges if they leave the office against the law.

Proposed by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, the amendment to Article 3 of the Act on privileges and protection provided to former presidents states that a president who leaves the office without being proven guilty of an offence is entitled to financial privileges and that a president who has completed one term is entitled to a sum of MVR 50,000 and a president who has completed two terms of office is entitled to MVR 75,000.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who has claimed that he was thrown out of office after a “coup d'etat”, will not be entitled to further financial privileges according to this amendment.

MP Riyaz Rasheed has previouly proposed other amendments to the bill which stated that any former president who calls, encourages or acts in such a way that threatens the sovereignty of the state shall be deprived from all financial privileges. The amendment was rejected by the parliament with 39 votes against.

The current amendment proposed by MP Riyaz Rasheed reflects some of the concerns raised by the MP while debating his previous amendment.

The current amendment states that acting in a way that the country might lose a part of its territory, encouraging such actions, acts that might weaken the economy, will also cause the former president to forfeit the financial privileges.

The amendment also states a former president who takes part in an illegal action, or participates in committing an illegal action, encouraging such an action or in instances where the personnel who undertake the protection of former president are subjected to commit illegal or unlawful actions, will also cause for the former president to forfeit his right to protection and financial privileges.