Decentralisation Bill was passed with 42 votes in Wednesday’s sitting, leaving only the Local Council Elections Bill on the agenda.
The decree submitted by Thoddu MP Ali Waheed on behalf of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) was passed, after the General Committee sanctioned it on Tuesday by the consent of 62 out of 69 members present, while seven members voted against it and four members abstained.
Presenting the committee’s decision, Chair Thulhaadhoo MP Nazim Rashaad said the committee agreed to pass it without any amendments, although one MP wanted to add more bills to the pre-recess to-do list, including Prohibiting Gang Violence, Taxing Tourist Hotels and Services and Corporate Taxation.
While 45 out of 51 members present voted in favour of the decree, six members voted against it and 10 members abstained.
Although the committee decided to pass the decree without any amendments, Chairperson of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mariya Ahmed Didi of Machangoalhi-North constituency submitted an amendment to the proposal.
The amendment submitted by Mariya and endorsed by Kulhudhuffushi-South MP Mohamed Nasheed proposed to postpone recess until the Local Council Elections Bill becomes a law or the parliament decides on the bill in accordance with the constitution. It was rejected as 30 out of 66 MPs who participated voted against it.
Speaking against the decree, MDP and several independent MPs stressed that the parliament needs to prioritise more important bills.
DRP MPs, however, favoured the decree claiming that the atoll and city councils elections should be held before July 1 in accordance with article 298 of the constitution to further expand the decentralisation process, and added that the bill should be given a much higher priority.
The new parliamentary procedure states that the first term of the parliament, which began on March 1, ends on April 30. Second term is from June 1- August 31.
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