MP Ibrahim Shareef expresses support for law on floor-crossing

Opposition aligned MP Ibrahim Shareef has expressed intent to support the government's proposal of an anti-defection law, to disqualifty parliamentarians for floor-crossing.

Shareef said in a post on his Twitter account on Thursday that he believes the law is important, and that parliamentarians must stay aligned with the party through which they are elected.

"If they want their seat again, they must run again" the post which the long-serving lawmaker typed out in latin, reads.

MP Shareef recently addressed reports that he wishes to switch to the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives' parliamentary group, a sensitive matter as those considered loyal to President Abdulla Yameen have been unable to acquire half the attendance of the 85-seat house this parliamentary session.

MP Mohamed Nihan, the government's most staunchest supporter in parliament along with Fonadhoo constituency's Abdul Raheem Abdulla, proposed that the parlaiment's diciplinary committee be vested authority to unseat lawmakers who switch parties.

The proposal was heard on the parliament floor at Wednesday's rushed sitting, with deciding on what to do with the proposals being ommitted and it being concluded within minutes, and it has recieved support from constituents. There has been no penalty for switching parties and floor-crossing is common in the People's Majlis.

The law is based on an earlier Supreme Court ruling, on a case filed by the government seeking to interpret laws on the matter, which despite stating that the disciplinary committee could unseat said parliamentarians also says that a law needs to be passed on the matter first.

However, the Elections Commission has unseated 12 lawmakers based on the ruling, whom the court reinstated in their controversial ruling this month.