The People’s Majlis has placed the bill seeking to allow the current councilors to retain positions until the Local Council elections are held and new officials take oath, on Monday’s agenda.

The first reading will be held at the 37th sitting of the parliament, on Monday.

The first bill was sponsored by Bilehdhoo MP Ahmed Haleem and aims to modify the Fifth Amendment to the Maldives Constitution.

The "special bill to ensure decentralized administrative divisions" was sponsored by MP for west-Henveiru contituency Hassan Latheef the second times round.

This bill describes the protocol to be followed until new officials can take office and notes that the current council terms are set to expire on June 3rd and will result in vacant seats. The bill highlights Article 230 of the constitution that mandates "all administrative divisions of the Maldives administration be decentralized" and Article 231 which states that "all members of councils created for decentralized administration shall be democratically elected by secret ballot by their respective communities".

It allows the current council officials to retain positions until an election is held and new officials take office. According to the bill, incumbent officials have full authority, as granted by the constitution, to make decisions and will be held accountable for said decisions during this period.

The bill will come into effect once ratified and published in the state gazette and will be annulled once new officials take office.

Earlier in May, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the special bill to delay the Local Council Elections and the Women’s Development Committee Elections, indefinitely.

On April 13, ECM delayed both elections indefinitely at a time fears of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, sweeping across the globe at a fast-rate have been increasing in the Maldives.

EC announced the decision to delay the elections on 12 March, the same day the State of Public Health Emergency was declared. Elections were initially scheduled for 4 April, however, it was delayed until 18 April amid Covid-19 fears.

Further, the parliament has also placed deliberations on the report based on a motion submitted by the MP for central-Henveiru constituency and Majority Leader Ali Azim on March 30, seeking Majlis approval on the implementation of the government’s program to overcome the challenges facing businesses as well as families due to the precautionary measures being implemented by the government to contain and control the spread of coronavirus, on Monday’s agenda.

Other reports by the Committee on National Security and the Gavaaidhu Committee are also on Monday’s agenda.