A constitutional amendment to bar former presidents from contesting parliamentary elections has been submitted by Jumhooree Party (JP) aligned lawmaker Abdul Latheef Mohamed.

The bill aims to amend Article 73 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, which defines the qualifications and criteria for contesting parliamentary seats.

The amendment can only pass with votes from two-thirds of the 85-seat Majlis, a total of 53 votes. Latheef, who represents the Dhidhdhoo constituency, had also submitted a bill to amend particular clauses of the statute on elections.

The only former president contesting the upcoming elections is Mohamed Nasheed, founder of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). MDP has said that the bill is a direct strike at the party and Nasheed.

JP’s parliamentary group leader Abdulla Riyaz, who also leads the government coalition’s joint parliamentary group, said MP Latheef had not discussed the matter before submitting the bill and the amendment.

Latheef said former presidents ‘naturally’ have immense political capital and fame, and as such them contesting is unfair for other candidates running against them. Latheef also said that presidents are given special allowances so as to ‘allow them to retire from direct involvement in politics’.

MDP and JP have come to a disagreement over the People’s Malis elections over the division of constituencies among them. MDP is contesting for all constituencies, while JP describes this as a power grab in violation of the unity of the coalition.

JP also says the MDP is violating an agreement that stands between parties in the coalition to have constituencies divided among them.