President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is holding the anti-defection bill without ratifying it in order to "buy" MPs, Maafannu Hulhangu MP Mohamed Falah has alleged.
The bill was passed on April 1 with 33 votes in favor. Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats voted for the bill.
According to the Constitution, the President must decide whether to ratify a bill or send it back to the Parliament within 15 days of receipt to the President's Office.
Speaking on the first episode of Adhadhu's Debates show, Falaah said the public has concerns over MPs leaving their respective parties after election.
He expressed hopes that the MDP would win Parliament majority in the elections to be held two weeks later. But he added that there are also fears that the government would attempt to buy off MDP MPs.
“When the government came, we also had about 60 MPs. Then all of a sudden, about 13 of them have gone to the ruling PNC [People's National Congress]. They undoubtedly committed the filthy act of bribery. There is no other reason. They have taken some of our veteran MPs too," Falaah said.
The anti defection act is included in the MDP's legislative agenda for the ongoing 19th session of the Parliament.
The disqualification of MPs was specified in Article 3 of the anti-defection bill. If an MP who was elected on a political party ticket leaves the party or changes to a different party, the MP would have to resign.
MPs would have the discretion to file a court case within seven days. If the court rules against the MP and Parliament is informed of the decision by the EC, the MP would have to resign.
