Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers, on Tuesday, have called on the government to reduce political appointees instead of changing local councils under the pretense of reducing state expenditure.
The opposition lawmakers made the call while debating on the government-backed bill submitted by ruling People's National Congress (PNC)’s Hoarafushi MP Ali Moosa proposing amendments to Articles 15, 29, 45, and 6-15 of the Decentralization Act.
The bill is aimed at foregoing by-elections for vacant positions in local councils and Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) if there are fewer than 548 days left for the election.
Ali Moosa stated that the amendment was proposed to address increased vacancies in local council and WDC seats, which have led to frequent by-elections and a substantial rise in election-related expenses.
MDP lawmakers have voiced opposition for the bill during Tuesday’s debate.
In this regard, MDP’s parliamentary group leader and South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil said the Decentralization Act has become powerless since the current administration assumed office. He voiced strong disapproval of the numerous political appointments made to the Local Governance Ministry—an institution established to decentralize councils—while advocating reduction of state expenditure.
South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil. (Photo/People's Majlis)
“This states no one will be elected as a replacement when the seat of the individual elected to serve the people becomes vacant. This is saddening. The Decentralization Act’s Chapter Eight has been nullified within a year and a half for this administration,” he said, while critiquing the current administration for being fixated on the Decentralization Act.
Nazil stated that the amendment would negatively affect the public, noting that essential projects on the islands—urgently needed by residents—are already on hold. He added that leaving the position without an elected representative for a year and a half would only worsen the challenges faced by the people.
Citing that the bill ‘does not make sense’, he called to reject it.
Another MDP lawmaker, Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal said the current amendment marks the third amendment proposed to the Decentralization Act by the current administration during the 20th parliamentary assembly.
Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal. (Photo/People's Majlis)
Ameen, noting the government has cited reducing expenses as the main purpose behind the amendment, stressed that it has made no other efforts apart from bringing changes to local councils “to reduce expenses” over its tenure.
“The state in our constituency is that there is no way to relocate to a powerhouse that is already 95 percent completed. The government is allegedly trying to reduce expenditure to implement projects,”
“The government is fixated on reducing expenditure, but nothing else apart from this has been done,” he stressed while highlighting some other expenditures such as the President’s visits to Aarah.
He underscored the importance of ensuring projects proceed even when spending.
MDP’s Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh (Fittey) said even if the current administration has failed to produce much results over a year and a half, a councilor produces positive results for their islands within a year and a half.
He added that even if 15 percent of political appointees at Local Governance Ministry, which oversees local councils, are reduced, there will be enough budget to hold by-elections at all islands.
“In conclusion, I am totally against this amendment as I believe these expenses can be arranged by cutting down the government’s political appointees,” he stressed.
Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh (Fittey). (Photo/People's Majlis)
The amendment would bar holding by-elections if there are fewer than 548 days left for the election.
At present, the law allows to forego by-elections if there are less than 365 days left for the election.