Government Drafting Law to Introduce Recall Votes for MPs and Councillors

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government is drafting legislation to introduce a recall vote mechanism for Parliamentarians and local councillors. He stated that the bill will be submitted during the current parliamentary session. Speaking at his weekly press briefing, the President said the proposed system would create a direct channel for citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable while they are in office. He highlighted that the current framework lacks a formal public-initiated process for removal. “While councillors may face action by the Local Government Authority and MPs can lose seats through court rulings, the public has no formal avenue to initiate removal. This must change,” President Muizzu said. He explained that technical discussions are underway to study recall systems used in established democracies, with the aim of adapting suitable models for the Maldives. The President stressed the need for a clear and robust legal framework before implementation. “We must determine how such a process would function, including the percentage of constituents required to sign a recall petition, the parliamentary threshold needed to trigger a vote, and whether a majority vote would be required,” he said. The President added that the system must ensure transparency, accessibility, and include safeguards against potential misuse. The proposed recall mechanism is part of a broader package of electoral and institutional reforms being pursued by the government. Other proposals include reserving parliamentary seats for youth, women, and persons with disabilities, the possible introduction of a preferential voting system for presidential elections, and measures to strengthen the independence of key state institutions. The composition of the Judicial Service Commission is also expected to undergo legislative review.