No Legal Basis for Political Parties to Bear Burden of Crossovers by Members Elected by the Public

In a recent development, the former Deputy Speaker of the Maldives Parliament, Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi, stated that political parties cannot legally be held accountable for members elected by the public who later switch allegiances. He emphasized that the current electoral system in the Maldives is a direct electoral system, where candidates are elected based on the majority of votes in their respective constituencies. Dr. Didi pointed out that this system ensures that elected members are primarily responsible to the voters who elected them, rather than to the political parties they represent. He further explained that in the Maldives, voters cast their ballots based on the individual candidates, not their party affiliations. Therefore, if a member crosses over to another party, there is no legal obligation for the original party to bear the responsibility. Dr. Didi noted that this practice is common in democratic nations and is a part of the political landscape. Reflecting on recent events, he highlighted that this issue has been raised in the context of constitutional amendments aimed at increasing the accountability of elected members to their constituents. The amendments, passed on November 20, 2024, stipulate that if a member switches parties or leaves the party they were elected from, they must resign from their seat. This ensures that the will of the voters is respected and that political parties are not unduly burdened by defections.