Clashes erupt outside Parliament as PNC activists confront MDP protestors

Clashes erupted outside the Parliament building on Wednesday afternoon, as opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protestors, who were demonstrating against constitutional amendments proposes by the government, were confronted by a group of activists from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

A government bill, sponsored by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, seeks to write anti-defection provisions into the Constitution itself. The bill was presented to the Parliament on Wednesday morning, and then forwarded to the Whole House Committee. A second sitting has been scheduled for 05:30 pm Wednesday in order to take a floor vote on the bill.

Article 73 (c) of the Constitution declares circumstances where lawmakers will lose their seats.

• If a lawmaker with a proven debt fails to repay it in accordance with the court ruling
• If a lawmaker is serving a term of over 12 months for a criminal conviction
• If it has not been three years since a lawmaker sentenced to over 12 months for a criminal conviction has either finished serving the sentence or had the sentence commuted
• If a lawmaker is a judge in a court of law

The bill, declares three more circumstances where lawmakers will lose their seat. That is:

• If a lawmaker resigns from or is dismissed or expelled from the party they were elected on behalf of
• If a lawmaker switches parties or is dismissed or expelled from a party
• If an independent lawmaker joins a party

އެމްޑީޕީން މުޒާހަރާ ކުރަނިކޮށް ސަރުކާރަށް ނިސްބަތްވާ އެކްޓިވިސްޓުންތަކެއް ވަނީ އެ ސަރަހައްދަށް ވަދެގަނެފައި. އޭގެ ތެރޭގައި ސަރުކާރުގެ އިސް މަގާމުތަކުގައި ތިއްބެވި ބޭފުޅުން ވެސް ހިމެނޭ.

އެ އެކްޓިވިސްޓުން އެމްޑީޕީން މުޒާހަރާ ކުރާ ސަރަހައްދަށް ވަދެގަތުމުން އެ ސަރަހައްދު ހޫނުވި.… pic.twitter.com/3kpmGFkGLQ

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) November 20, 2024

Constitutional amendments require the vote of at least three-fourth of the Parliament. That is 70 seats. The PNC, which holds a supermajority in the Parliament, has enough seats to ensure the passage of the bill.

MDP protestors had gathered outside the Parliament as the committee began its review, voicing concern that the bill undermines the Constitution.

But clashes broke out when they were confronted by pro-government protestors, including senior government officials. Some of them were seen shoving MDP protestors.

Police in the area pushed back the pro-government protestors, and are now pushing back the MDP protestors as well.