Parliamentarian Abdul Latheef Mohamed proposes an amendment to the constitution seeking to prevent former presidents from competing in the parliamentary elections.
Without withdrawing the initial amendment to the Parliamentary Elections Act, Latheef proposed an amendment to add a point to Article 73(a) of the constitution, which states the requirements of a person elected to Parliament. A person elected to be a member of Parliament shall be qualified if he/she is a citizen of the Maldives, is not a citizen of a foreign country, is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam, has attained the age of eighteen years and is of sound mind, according to Article 73 (a).
Parliamentarian Latheef proposed an addition to the requirements that a person elected to Parliament must not be a former president. An amendment to the constitution should be passed with the votes of three quarters of the Parliament, according to the parliamentary regulation.
Explaining his proposal, Latheef said the qualifications stated in the constitution was compiled in reference to the situation in 2008, adding the situation has changed within the past 10 years. He said there are several individuals who have filled the highest office in the country unlike the situation in 2008.
The parliamentarian reiterated former presidents are given huge respect and admiration by the general public, adding former presidents who were at a time given the highest authority should not be handed a lesser authoritative role.
The amendment was widely criticised by the main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and coalition supporters. MDP stated the bill was formulated to prevent former President Mohamed Nasheed from competing for a seat in Parliament.
Further, MDP has requested Jumhooree Party to withdraw the bill. Latheef is a member of Jumhooree Party, a party which formed the current government coalition.