Bill submitted to reserve 30 percent of Majlis seats for youth
The bill seeks to amend the constitution to reserve 30 percent of parliamentary seats for individuals under 35 years old
MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem
A bill proposing a constitutional amendment to reserve 30 percent of seats in the People’s Majlis for individuals under 35 has been submitted to parliament.
The bill was introduced by MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, the opposition lawmaker noted that while youth make up 45 percent of the Maldivian population, only 11 percent of the members in the 20th Majlis assembly fall within the youth demographic. He argued that the proposed quota is intended to increase youth representation in the legislature.
Outlining his reasoning, Meekail emphasized that although young people represent one of the largest segments of the population, their direct involvement in policy formulation and major national decisions remains minimal. The stated objective of the bill is to ensure the state provides youth with the opportunity to influence national affairs on the broadest scale.
The lawmaker also stressed that, given their familiarity with rapid technological, communicative and global shifts, creating a systematic path for entrusting key national responsibilities to the generation expected to lead the country is a core aim of the proposal.
The bill seeks to amend the Constitution by inserting a new sub-clause after sub-clause (n) of Article 72 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives.
The amendment mandates that, when electing members to the People’s Majlis, 30 percent of the total seats must be designated as constituencies reserved for candidates who have not yet reached 35 years of age. It further requires that the method for determining which constituencies are reserved for individuals under 35 be prescribed by law.
According to the bill, the law will take effect once it is passed, ratified, and published in the Government Gazette.
If enacted, the bill is expected to expand youth participation in the political system, giving their ideas greater weight in national decision-making.
Many have asserted that it would create pathways for younger political leadership, increasing the number of emerging leaders prepared to guide the country in the years ahead.
