Parliment Speaker Calls for Constituents’ Right to Recall MPs

Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has called for means that allow constituents to remove their Member of Parliament (MP) if they choose to do so.

In an interview with the state media, he emphasised that while the President is elected by the entire nation, MPs are chosen by a much smaller electorate, typically around 5,000 people in a given constituency.

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Speaker Raheem pointed out that although the Parliament holds the power to impeach a President under specific procedures, the Constitution does not provide any provisions for removing an MP. 

“I do not believe it fits with the times to have the option to remove the person in the highest elected position and yet have no way of removing those in lesser elected positions,” he said.

The Speaker expressed his belief that there should be a way for constituents or another relevant entity to remove an MP from office if they fail to represent the people’s interests properly or if the constituents are dissatisfied with their service.

Earlier this year, the Maldivian Democratic Party proposed legislation to allow constituents to recall their MPs through a vote.