President: Parliament’s “size” and councilors need to be reduced

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Sunday night, said parliament’s “size” and the number of councilors need to be reduced.

He made the remark while speaking at an event held at PNC’s party centre.

In this regard, the President said the system needs to be shaped in a “sustainable” manner when talking about cost reduction, and in this trajectory, voiced out his support to reduce the “size” of the parliament.

“As I believe, it would not be right to reduce too small when reducing the size. The number of the 17^th parliamentary assembly was the most ideal, that is 77 members,” he said.

President Muizzu underscored that the parliament’s recurrent expenses will be reduced if the amendment is implemented to ensure the number of lawmakers does not increase.

Speaking further, the President expressed his belief that the number of councils needs to be reduced, adding he does not believe the voice of the public will be silenced if the number of councilors is reduced.

“A single person is elected as the head of the state. Henceforth, it is a huge expense to elect five or six people for an island with a population of just 300 people, 500 people or 1,000 people,” he said.

On this note, he detailed that the election of the president and a vice president for councils will be sufficient for islands with small population, while the number could be slightly increased for cities. He expressed his belief their more beneficial service to the public than at present can be carried out with such a change.

President Muizzu also strongly criticized how atoll councils are elected, detailing that the president of each island council is a member of the atoll council while the remaining member of the council of the atoll council is its president.

“Atoll council meetings mostly cannot be held online, as it requires the physical attendance of the council president,” he noted.

In light of this, he affirmed his commitment to ensure atoll councils are smaller in size and their benefits are rendered to the public in the most ideal manner.

Speaking regarding independent commissions that have been incepted via various laws, the President said amendments would soon be submitted to the parliament to reduce the number of members set forth by the law for these commissions.

He also noted plans to consolidate commissions undertaking similar works as it would increase their capacity and efficiency to produce results desired from them by the public.

President Muizzu has voiced out his support for reducing the number of MPs at a time ruling PNC has submitted a resolution to the parliament demanding the same.