We are amending the constitution – Speaker Qasim

The Speaker of the Peoples Special Majlis Qasim Ibrahim has stated that the ongoing work of the Majlis is to revise the existing constitution and that in no way is the Majlis engaged in formulating a brand new constitution.

Speaker Qasim made the statement to clarify the matter due to the opposition raising points of order in response to DRP member’s arguments that the Majlis is currently engaged in formulating a new constitution.

The opposition claims that the work undertaken by the Special Majlis was amending the existing constitution in accordance with the President’s decree. They have also urged the Speaker to bring a stop to the government’s attempt to confuse the general public by claiming the current ongoing work of the Special Majlis is formulating a new constitution on national TV.

Responding to the members arguments Speaker Qasim said the President Gayoom assembled the Special Majlis with the sole intention of amending the current constitution as can be seen in the letter sent by the President to the Majlis. Speaker Qasin further pointed out that the second article of the Majlis regulations clearly states that and as such the ongoing work is indeed amendment of the current constitution. However DRP Members say that the constitution formed by revision state that when the when the constitution that is being formed come in to force, the constitution that is currently in force will no longer be active and hence dissolved.

“The intention of the opposition is to prevent President Maumoon from standing election, one way or another, some of the articles endorsed by the Majlis makes “references to this constitution”, further when this constitution comes in to force and as some articles makes references to “this constitution” we can only say that this is a new constitution, as long as you don’t believe that this is a new constitution, the concept will slowly be erased” said Mohamed Anil President’s Special Member.

The arguments were thrashed in the process of passing the second article of the Chapter on the President.

The article 2 of the Chapter on the President was passed with the amendment proposed by President’s Member Mohamed Saleem. The amendment was passed with 66 votes in favor. The amendment states that the President’s term is 5 years and that no person shall serve for more than 2 consecutive terms as President.

Opposition Members claim that with the endorsement of Saleem’s amendment the President Gayoom can no loner compete for the Presidency as the Majlis is not formulating a new constitution and the reference made to “this constitution” in the article referred to the existing constitution. Members say as the President Gayoom has already served for more than 2 consecutive terms under the existing constitution he can no loner stand for election.