President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that he will propose legal amendments to introduce a "recall vote" mechanism, allowing citizens to remove Members of Parliament and Local Councilors from office.
Speaking at a youth forum organized by Sangu TV last night, the President noted that those opposing the synchronization of presidential and parliamentary elections often call for holding the parliamentary elections mid-term. However, he pointed out that even in such a scenario, they would coincide with local council elections, still resulting in two separate election cycles.
The President also addressed opposition claims regarding the inability to remove a sitting President, clarifying that the Constitution already explicitly outlines the procedure for the impeachment of a President.
"The mid-term election of the Majlis is not the solution for that. The term of the Majlis is clearly defined. Within my proposed reform agenda, I intend to include a provision where constituents can initiate a recall vote for Members of Parliament and Councilors during their term, as prescribed by law," the President stated.
The President explained that if the performance of a Member of Parliament or a Councilor falls below established legal standards or if they fail to fulfill specific criteria, constituents could submit a petition. Upon securing a specific percentage of support, a formal recall vote would be held to decide on their removal.
"Through a recall vote, constituents will have the power to remove both Parliament Members and Councilors from their positions. Therefore, there is no necessity to hold parliamentary elections mid-term. We should hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day to elect members. If a member fails to meet the legal requirements or conditions during their term, the public is then empowered to remove them from their seat through a recall vote," he added.
The President further confirmed his intention to submit this amendment, asserting that the arguments currently presented by the opposition lack substantial merit.
Hussain Ali
Economy
News
Business