Parliament has passed the motion to repeal the age limit on presidential candidacy with a vast majority.

The motion which proposed to repeal the constitutional amendment banning those above 65 years of age from contesting the presidential elections, was passed with the votes of 72 members at a sitting held on Wednesday. The motion required the votes of at least 64 members to be passed, according to the constitution which states that votes from three fourths of the Parliament are needed to pass a constitutional amendment.

The amendment to cap the age of presidential candidates was passed in 2015 by then ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in order to elect tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb as vice president.

The amendment states that only a person aged between 30 and 65 is allowed to contest for the presidency or vice presidency. Before the amendment, only those aged 35 and above were allowed to contest the positions. Adeeb was 33 when he was elected as vice president by parliament.

The bill passed on Wednesday also states that only those aged 35 and above will be allowed to contest for Presidency. The bill was submitted by Member of Parliament for Kelaa constituency, Ali Arif.

With the Parliament having passed the bill on Wednesday, prominent politicians such as Jumhooree Party leader and recently elected Parliament Speaker Qasim Ibrahim, 67, will now be able to contest future Presidential Elections.