President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has today ratified the amendment to the law granting the President direct authority to appoint the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Elections Commission (EC).

The bills submitted by Felidhoo constituency member Adam Zahir to amend the ACC law and Kelaa constituency member Abdullah Shareef to amend the EC law state that the purpose of these amendments is to streamline the operations of independent commissions and standardize the procedure for appointing members to the positions of chairperson and deputy chairperson of these commissions.

The current seventh article of the law states that for both commissions, the chairperson and deputy chairperson are to be appointed from among the commission members by the commission members themselves. It also states that the commission must inform the President and the Parliament within 48 hours of such appointments. The amendment proposed to the seventh article by this bill states that the President shall appoint a chairperson and deputy chairperson from among the commission members.

It also states that whenever there is a need to appoint a chairperson or deputy chairperson, the President must submit the name or names of individuals from among the commission members to the People's Majlis. The President must then appoint the person approved by the Majlis to the position of chairperson or deputy chairperson of the commission.

The proposed amendment to Article 15 (b) of the law states that if the chairperson or deputy chairperson of the commission wishes to resign from their position, they must submit a letter stating this to the President, and upon the President's receipt of this letter, the person is considered to have vacated the position of chairperson or deputy chairperson of the commission.

Article 10 (c) of the ACC law states that if the majority of the commission passes a resolution that the chairperson and deputy chairperson are not fulfilling their responsibilities, they must resign from their positions. Article 10 (d) states that even if they resign in this manner, they do not cease to be members of the commission.

Article 11 (d) of the law states that if the position of chairperson or deputy chairperson of the commission becomes vacant, a person must be appointed to the vacant position by the commission within 72 hours at most, as specified in the law. However, the bill includes provisions to remove Articles 10 (c), (d), and 11 (d).