Shahid: Govt. trying to establish an autocratic rule by trampling democratic system

Main opposition MDP’s leader Abdulla Shahid has accused the current administration of having a “secret agenda” to establish an autocratic rule by tramping the democratic system.  

Two government-backed bills have been submitted to the Parliament which seeks to grant discretion of appointing heads to the Elections Commission (EC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to the President.

Criticizing the bill via a post on X on Monday, Shahid said the government-backed bill is part of efforts to trample the independent democratic system established by the constitution enacted in 2008 in order to consolidate all powers to the hands of the head of state.

Shahid, who served as the Foreign Minister in the last administration, described this as the “dangerous secret agenda” of the current administration.

“This is the greatest threat posed to Maldives’ democracy in recent times,” he added.

He accused the government of trying to jumble the democratic system by bringing EC and ACC under the President’s power and in this trajectory, called on the government to immediately halt these efforts.

MDP has also expressed concern over the government-backed bills via a statement in which they described the bill as something that would destroy the system of oversight set down by the constitution. The party, therewith, condemned the efforts.

Underscoring that EC and ACC have been bestowed the power to appoint and dismiss heads as Articles 167 and 199 of the constitution ensure they are both independence commissions – MDP emphasized that transferring the power to the President is a backward act effectively allowing executive influence over the commissions.

In this regard, the party alleged that the articles in the laws that empower commission members to appoint heads via an internal election were being amended with the intention to undermine their independence and exert political influence over them.

They also accused the current administration of leveraging its supermajority in the parliament to consolidate all powers of the state under the President’s Office in a manner President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu can influence all branches of the state and in this trajectory, called to immediately cease these efforts.

Out of the two government-backed bills, the amendment bill on Elections Commission Act was submitted by Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef while the Anti-Corruption Commission Act’s amendment bill was submitted by Felidhoo MP Adam Zahir.

According to the particulars of both bills, the authority to appoint presidents and deputy presidents to both of these independent institutions will rest with the Maldives President, who will be responsible in nominating candidates for the roles.

Upon nomination by the president, the names would be submitted for parliament approval, and only after approval from the legislative body, can they be formally appointed to their roles in the commissions.

As per the bills, the individuals currently holding the posts of president and deputy president in these commissions at the time the amendments come to effect, are to remain in their positions until their legal term expires.

The law presently both commissions to appoint presidents and deputy presidents by an internal election among its respective members. The result of this election must be shared with the President within 28 hours from the vote.