The Parliament has passed a bill to postpone the parliamentary elections for the second time.

On February 11, parliament approved an amendment to the General Election Act to make it mandatory for the elections to be held 10 days after the end of Ramadan, and sent the bill to the President for ratification on February 13.

However, the bill was sent back to parliament on Monday seeking a re-consideration of the bill without ratifying it within the 15-day period stipulated in the Constitution.

According to the President's Office, the bill was sent back on the advice of the Attorney General in accordance with the president's prerogative under Article 91(a) of the Constitution.

The Attorney General's recommendations noted that the bill provides for procedures that are inconsistent with the principles laid down in the Constitution, which may interfere with the conduct of elections and free and fair elections in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Therefore, in a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament, the President stated that the Bill was sent back as the Attorney General had suggested to the President that changes should be made to the Bill in order to correct them. explained, the President's Office said in a statement.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, in a letter to the Parliament, explained the reasons for withdrawing the bill, noting the points he believed that the amendments proposed by the bill were in violation of the laws and the constitution.

Parliament debated on the bill during Wednesday's session.

Dhandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla supported the proposal of Fuvahmulah Central MP Hussain Mohamed Didi to re-pass the bill. Following the proposal, the Parliament passed the bill for the second time with 47 of the 62 members present at the time voting in favour of the bill.

Once the bill is passed in this way, the Constitution makes it mandatory for the Republic of Raisul to ratify the bill.

Regarding ratification of a bill passed by parliament, the Constitution says that every bill passed by parliament must be sent to the President for ratification within seven days of its passage, and within that period the President must ratify the Bill within 15 days of its receipt, or to reconsider the Bill or to consider an amendment that the President sees fit to bring it back to parliament. it should be sent.

After reconsideration of a bill sent back to parliament, if it is passed without any changes, it should be ratified by the President and published in the Government Gazette.

If a bill sent for ratification by parliament is not returned to parliament for reconsideration or amendment within the stipulated time period, it should be published in the government gazette on the grounds that the President has ratified it.