The Anti-Defection Act has been ratified.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the amendment bill on Tuesday.

The People’s Majlis passed the amendment bill at the 20th sitting of its first session of 2024 on April 1.

Aiming to address the issue of elected parliamentarians, as well as members representing cities, atolls and island councils, as well as Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) under the Decentralization Act, switching political sides during their tenure, the act deals with situations of defection where an elected member is administratively removed from their political party.

It also deals with situations of defection where an elected member decides to leave their elected party voluntarily and joins a different political party instead as well as if an elected member renounces their independency and joins a political party.

If any of these circumstances come into the spotlight, an elected member of the People’s Majlis will be mandated to forward their resignation from the post, in accordance with the Act.

Further, the Act aims to hold elected officials of the parliament and members of city, atoll and island councils as well as WDCs under the Decentralization Act accountable to their constituents and ensure they remain dedicated to the political party from which they were elected to represent.

In addition to this, the Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) is mandated to hold by-elections for vacancies created as a result of defections.

The act also allows members who lose their seats due to defection to contest again in by-elections.

Following ratification, the act was publicized in the government gazette and has come into immediate effect.