Petition submitted ordering Majlis, pres. to nullify constitutional amendment

A petition has been submitted ordering the People’s Majlis and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to nullify the amendment made to the Constitution and to refrain from doing anything that could undermine the people's sovereignty.

The petition was submitted by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s National Congress member for the North Galolhu constituency, Mariya Ahmed Didi, on Tuesday.

The petition is an order issued under Article 4 of the Constitution in the name of the people, demanding the nullification of the amendment made to the Constitution that undermines the power of Article 4.

Mariya said they decided to submit the petition because several members of the public were saying that the MDP should submit a petition. She said the petition was submitted at the request of many people and hoped that as many people as possible would join the petition. Mariya has stated that the MDP will always work against attempts to undermine the power of the people.

The petition submitted by Mariya highlights that Article 4 of the Constitution states that all powers of the state originate from and remain with the citizens. Therefore, the petition states that electing representatives to the legislative power, which is one of the three powers of the state, and participating in the process of governing the state is a power vested in the citizens under Articles 26 and 70 of the Constitution.

Similarly, the petition notes that the people of the Maldives have agreed to a presidential system of governance, and the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives was formulated based on the people's decision for a presidential system. The petition highlights that this amendment was brought to the Constitution without seeking public opinion.

Further, Mariya has noted in the petition that the amendment to the Constitution changes the system of governance to a mixed system, overturning the decision made by the people. She has also highlighted in the petition that Article 75 of the Constitution states that members elected to the People's Majlis by the people must base their work on the interests of the entire nation, and therefore, forcing members to act according to the wishes of their political party is contrary to this article.

The petition further states that Article 90 of the Constitution prohibits any investigation against a member of the People's Majlis for anything said or any vote given in the Majlis. Therefore, amending the Constitution in a way that a member loses their membership due to how they vote or what they say is also contrary to the basic framework of the Constitution of the Maldives.

The petition further states that the amendment made to the Constitution without the consent of the people must be nullified. Therefore, in the capacity of citizens empowered by Article 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, the petition orders the people's representatives and the servant of the people entrusted with governing the Maldives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, not to do anything that could undermine the sovereignty of the people.