Minister of Information and Legal Reform Mohamed Nasheed has said that the confusion created in the public mind as regards “this constitution” would easily be put to rest when time comes for adopting interpretation of key words and phrases used in the constitution. The chapter on interpretation is yet to be drafted by the drafting committee and is yet to come to the Special Majlis for adoption say Minister Nasheed. Minister Nasheed made the statement in his own internet blog.
Minister Nasheed claimed that opposition members worked to block President Gayoom from competing for another term in office. In this regard, Minister Nasheed alleged that the Drafting Committee which has a large number of MDP members drafted the clause (a) of the article 2 of the Chapter on the President as to bar any person who has completed 2 consecutive terms in office from running for the presidency for a third term.
However when the amendment proposed by Mohamed Saleem, President’s Member was passed it stated that “under this constitution any person elected to be the President shall not serve for more than 2 consecutive terms”
When the amendment was passed the opposition said the President Gayoom cannot run another term. Opposition also claimed it was huge success for them. However DRP Members said that as the amendment stated that under this Constitution a person shall serve no more than 2 consecutive terms as President, it provided the opportunity for the President Gayoom to contest for another 2 terms. DRP members also said that the constitution that is being formulated is entirely a new constitution.
However in response MDP says that Special Majlis is currently engaged in revising the revising the existing constitution and formulating a new one.
However Minister Nasheed on the matter has said that the President assembled the Special to revise the existing constitution but the Special Majlis Members were not engaged in carrying out any revision work.
Nasheed said that Majlis had stipulated fundamentals of the constitution and that that a draft constitution was formed with the assistance of a Canadian professor. Minister Nasheed further said that Chapter by Chapter from that draft constitution drafted by the Canadian professor was translated to Dhivehi language and discussed and passed by the Majlis. Nasheed also noted that all except 2 chapters all has been passed. Nasheed also noted that rejoicings due to the interpretations of “this constitution” and “under this Constitution will come to an end.
Minister further revealed that President Gayoom had the right not to ratify the article and send it back to the Majlis and that in such an event the opposition would not get the required two thirds majority .
He had also noted that President has earlier indicated that before the ratification he would go for a referendum and in such a case they would be many who would not accept the “closed doors” for the leader of the nation.
Nasheed further said if the constitution in the making is not a new constitution, then opposition’s arguments for a transitional government does not carry any weight.
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