Majlis passes bill disqualifying candidates who lose primaries from elections

People’s Majlis has passed the bill submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) which disqualifies candidates who lose a primary held by a political party from contending in any official election either as an independent candidate, or as a candidate of another political party.

The amendment to Political Parties Act was submitted by Vilingili MP Saud Hussain, and passed by the People’s Majlis during the sitting held this Wednesday.

41 lawmakers voted in favor of passing the bill, while 29 lawmakers voted against the bill.

Reading the bill to the Majlis, MP Saud said he submitted the bill with the purpose of providing a solution to the distress it causes members of a political party when a member of their party who loses a primary goes on and competes in an official election as an independent candidate or as a candidate of another political party.

Meanwhile, the amendment submitted by PPM member, Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi to law on elections on Tuesday was rejected by People’s Majlis with the vote of 43 lawmakers.

MP Ibrahim Didi proposed declaring ballot sheets cast with anything written other than the required “check mark” as void.