Parliament repeals restriction on politicians living in exile

The Parliament has voted to repeal the amendment to the election law of the country aimed at barring political leaders who are living or had lived in exile and/or chose to obtain asylum from a foreign nation from running in elections.

68 members voted to repeal this amendment in the parliament today, which was proposed by the state.

The amendment saw political leaders who lived in another country in asylum or under the protection of a foreign nation barred from running in elections in the Maldives for ten years after leaving the asylum or protection of the foreign country.

The amendment was brought by President Yameen in 2018 as the Presidential Election neared.