Efforts to "weaken" petitions: Committee passes amendment allowing counter-petitions to be filed against existing submissions

The General Purpose Committee of the People’s Majlis has approved an amendment to the parliamentary rules of procedure to allow the submission of multiple petitions regarding a single issue.

The government has launched efforts to undermine petitions submitted to the People’s Majlis that oppose state policies, seeking to weaken public support for such initiatives.

Under the current parliamentary regulations, a petition cannot be resubmitted if it addresses a matter already contained within a previously submitted petition. To address this, Member of Parliament Mamdhooh submitted a motion on Monday to repeal Article 257-1 (l) of the Standing Orders. The provision slated for repeal stipulates that a petition cannot be filed if it seeks action on a matter already being addressed in a prior petition before the Parliament. The removal of this clause would allow citizens to repeatedly submit petitions to the People's Majlis on the same issue.

Consequently, MP Mamdhooh's proposal is perceived as an attempt to create an avenue for government supporters to submit "counter-petitions" on the same subject, thereby serving the administration's interests.

During Monday's General Purpose Committee meeting, members voted to repeal the specified article and reorder the subsequent clauses. The amendment, proposed by the PNC supermajority, faced no verbal opposition during the committee deliberations. The committee approved the changes with a majority of seven members in favor, while two members voted against the motion. Consequently, the amendment to the Parliament's Standing Orders has been passed.

Many observers believe this is a calculated move by the government to undermine the power of public petitions. By introducing competing petitions on the same subject, the government is accused of attempting to create "chaos" within the Parliament to ensure these initiatives ultimately fail.

The unrest stems from a bill proposed by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, which seeks to grant the government the authority to repossess lands currently under the jurisdiction of local councils. A petition, backed by significant public support, has been submitted in opposition to the bill. The petition calls for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed legislation.

An e-petition submitted to the People’s Majlis calling for the withdrawal of the bill has garnered over 2,140 signatures. According to parliamentary regulations, this qualifies as a "Threshold 2" petition. This threshold is met once a petition secures signatures equivalent to 0.5 percent of the Maldivian population.

This development has elevated the petition to a significant status. It marks the first time a petition has been submitted with the required number of signatures to mandate a floor debate in Parliament, effectively becoming the inaugural petition of its kind to necessitate such legislative deliberation.

After the Petition Committee had already accepted the initial petition and scheduled it for the floor, the government submitted a second petition on the same subject. This second petition, filed by supporters of the People's National Congress (PNC), calls for the bill's passage, arguing that it is essential for facilitating the delivery of basic services.

The original purpose of the petition system, designed to amplify the voices of the people, has been undermined by the government's direct interference. Many critics allege that this government-backed petition, which garnered over 850 signatures, is a "political ploy" orchestrated to diminish public support for the genuine grassroots movement.

With this amendment, the government will have a significant opportunity to "block" any future anti-government petitions by immediately submitting its own counter-petition on the same subject. As the Parliament’s General Purpose Committee reviews the matter, it is clear that passing this change would severely restrict the fundamental right to submit petitions.