An amendment to the Elections Commission Act proposing to empower the parliament to appoint members to the Elections Commission (EC) has been submitted to the parliament.

The bill was submitted by Holhudhoo MP Yoonus Ali who represents main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The bill proposes to amend Article 4 (a), (b), (c), and (d) of the act.

According to Article 4 (a) of the Act currently states that members of the Elections Commission shall be appointed by the President. Article 4 (b) notes that whenever it is necessary to appoint members or a member to the Elections Commission, the President shall submit to the People’s Majlis nominations in numbers of at least the required number of membership positions to be filled.

In addition, Article 5 (c) states that the nominations submitted to the People’s Majlis in accordance with article (b) shall be respondents from the general public. When submitting these nominations, the President shall also submit the names of the remaining respondents from the general public. Article 4 (d) also notes that he President shall appoint to the Elections Commission those persons approved by a majority of the People’s Majlis from the names submitted to the People’s Majlis by the President as specified in article (b).

The proposed amendment to Article 4 (a) states that the members of the EC shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Article. The amendment to Article 4 (b) states that whenever it is desired to appoint members or a member to the Commission, the Office of the Parliament shall make a public announcement to seek the applications, the names of the respondents shall be examined by the Independent Institutions Committee.

Furthermore, the amendment to Article 4 (c) states that the President shall appoint as a member of the EC a person or persons who shall be approved by a majority of the members present and voting at a session of the Parliament from among the names so submitted. The proposed amendment to Article 4 (d) states that the names approved by the Parliament for the membership of the EC shall be from among those who respond to the nomination by public announcement and fulfill the requirements set out in Article 5 of the Act.