Parliament passes amendment to Constitution

An amendment presented to the Parliament by the government has been passed.

The amendment is regarding empowering local councils and enhancing how they run and was presented by Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam. The amendment establishes that mayors and deputy mayors of city councils and presidents and vice presidents of island councils need to be elected directly through a secret ballot taken among constituents.

The amendment also states that atoll councils must be composed of island council presidents from each atoll to improve the representation of all local islands within atoll councils, and extending the term of councilors from three years to five years. These changes were voted for and passed by 66 MPs.