Coalition MPs: Age cap legislature being unnecessarily expedited

Government coalition lawmakers have accused Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) of unnecessarily expediting the repeal of the maximum age limit of 65 years on presidential eligibility.

The Bill to repeal the maximum age limit was originally submitted by PPM lawmaker, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah on November 12.

Falah later withdrew the Bill, and a similar Bill was submitted on behalf of PPM again by Kelaa MP Ali Arif this Tuesday morning.

Submitting the Bill this Tuesday morning, Arif said the lawmakers passed the amendment to place a maximum age limit of 65 years on presidential candidacy in 2015 out of necessity due to circumstances during that time.

“Circumstances have changed now. I am submitting this Bill because I find the circumstances call for it now. There is no maximum age limit for presidency in any other country,” said Arif.

Lawmakers have accepted the Bill for consideration and begun debate on the Bill.

During the debate, government coalition lawmakers pointed out that the repeal of the maximum age limit on presidency was part of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s legislative agenda. And criticized PPM for expediting the Bill when the Parliament was already swamped with important work, including the projected State budget for 2019.

“This was clearly an amendment to the Constitution made to disqualify specific individuals from the presidential elections,” said Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam, regarding the 2015 amendment to the Constitution.

Rozaina said President Solih’s administration has complied and ranked amendments which need to be made to the Constitution based on the immediate needs of the Maldivian people.

She said the amendments to taxation, decentralization act and judiciary are more pressing.

Some of the lawmakers also called for the minimum age limit for presidential candidacy to be lowered further. And argued limiting candidacy based on age infringes on the right to contest for presidency.