The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has denounced a proposed amendment that would grant the President authority to appoint the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the Elections Commission (EC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), labelling it a significant step towards consolidating power.
In a statement released on Monday, the MDP condemned the move, asserting that the independence of these commissions—enshrined in Articles 167 and 199 of the Constitution—is being undermined. These articles currently safeguard the commissions from direct governmental influence. The party argued that granting the President authority over these appointments is an “uncivilised act of direct influence” that goes against democratic principles and risks reversing progress achieved through the efforts of countless Maldivians.
The EC oversees the conduct of elections, while the ACC is tasked with investigating corruption, making their impartiality essential to maintaining public trust, the MDP explained. “The independence and autonomy of these commissions, as enshrined in the Constitution, are being compromised, effectively placing them in the hands of the President,” the statement read. This, the MDP warned, could open the door to political interference in their operations.
The proposed amendment would also dismantle existing provisions that allow commission members to internally vote on leadership positions, a change the MDP claims would strip these bodies of their independence and expose them to political manipulation. “By using the government’s supermajority in Parliament, President Mohamed Muizzu is seeking to concentrate power within the President’s Office, allowing for far-reaching influence over the state,” the party stated.
The MDP further called on the government to abandon what it described as “attempts to concentrate power in the President’s Office,” adding that it will not hesitate to “take necessary actions to defend the constitutional framework established by the Maldivian people.”