Parliament extending session to make major amendments to Decentralization Act

The Parliament is set to extend its current session by a week, a decision that members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) say is being made to push through major amendments to the Decentralization Act.

The Parliament is set to conclude the second session of this year and go into recess on Friday.

But during Tuesday’s sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla proposed extending the session by another week. The proposal is expected to pass the floor vote scheduled for later Tuesday, with PNC controlling a supermajority in the legislative assembly.

Several lawmakers told Sun that the PNC parliamentary group sent a message on Monday night, asking them to remain in Male’ next week.

One PNC lawmaker told Sun on Tuesday that the government is working to make amendments to the Decentralization Act. But he declined to share any details at this time.

Some lawmakers confided that there’s high chances the amendments involve downsizing local councils, and requiring for mayors and presidents of councils to be elected through an internal vote among councilors, rather than through a public vote.

But the details of the exact amendments being proposed remain unclear at this point.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has repeatedly said he wishes to downsize local councils. In May, he announced plans to push amendments to the Decentralization Act in order to downsize councils in islands with small populations.

He said he plans to amend the Decentralization Act in order to:

• Elect three-member councils in islands with populations under 2,000 people, and five-member councils in islands with populations above 2,000 people.
• Elect three-member women’s development committees in islands with populations under 2,000 people, and five-member women’s development committees in islands with populations above 2,000 people.
• Have presidents of women’s development committees elected through a direct vote.
• Cap the number of city councilors at the current level.
• Increase women’s quota in councils from 33 percent to 40 percent.

The latest push for more amendments come after the PNC passed controversial amendments to the Decentralized Act last week, designed to curb the powers of local councils, including in matters of recruitment of staff, lease of land and lagoons under the jurisdiction of councils, and run developmental projects.

The amendments were passed with a majority vote of 45-7 on August 6, despite concern from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as well as multiple councils.

MDP has slammed the amendments as an attempt by the government to concentrate powers and silence the voice of the people, while the PNC insists the changes are necessary better regulate spending and prevent wastage of state funds.

The amendments have yet to be ratified by President Muizzu.