Parliament has successfully passed the comprehensive rules of procedure governing public referendums, formalising the framework necessary for seeking public opinion on key policy and constitutional matters under the recently enacted Public Referendum Act.
The newly adopted rules detail the strict initiation process, rigorous parliamentary oversight, and specific voting thresholds required to move forward with a public referendum, providing clarity on a fundamental process designed to ascertain the views of the people.
Under the new procedures, the necessity for a public vote can be moved by individual Members of Parliament or the Speaker of Parliament.
The Speaker however, holds separate authority to seek public opinion on bills sent back for reconsideration, especially in cases where a constitutional amendment passed by Parliament is returned without the President’s ratification.
Any motion for a public vote, regardless of whether it originates from lawmakers or the Speaker, must first be referred to a standing or temporary parliamentary committee for consideration, with the committee mandated to submit its findings back to the Parliament floor within 14 days.
The rules establish distinct approval thresholds based on the nature of the consultation where a resolution seeking public opinion must be passed by a majority of the total membership of the Parliament. However, in sensitive cases involving a constitutional bill referred back by the President, the threshold for activating a referendum is set exceptionally high, requiring a supermajority vote of 42 out of 43 members present during voting.
Once a resolution is passed, Parliament is required to submit it to the Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) within three days.
Under the recently enacted Referendum Act, both the President and the Parliament have the discretion to call for a public referendum.
The first vote under the Referendum Act, proposed by the President, is scheduled for 25 October to ascertain the views of residents across three provincial wards regarding the formation of the Addu City Council.