Leader of the Jumhooree Party Gasim Ibrahim stated last night that he salutes President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for taking charge in the much needed amendments to the Constitution and that the country will benefit the sooner those amendments are brought into effect.
While on a PSM program, Gasim said that even though MDP leaders had spoken of changing the way the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is formed during the previous MDP government, the five-year term ended without anything being done in that regard. Gasim also said that, at the time, even though repeated submissions about the influx of Parliament members were made to the then-MDP majority Parliament, the amendments had been rejected.
"When Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office, even he said that he would change the JSC. No submissions were made within those five years regarding changes to the JSC," said the Maamigili constituency MP, Gasim.
"Even I made a submission, outlining the locking of the number of Parliament members to 82 or even 97. At the time however, MDP did not cast their votes in favour. And they say that I am a member of the coalition. Including me, even Amir, Kudahuvadhoo constituency's MP made two submissions. They were also rejected by MDP."
Gasim went on to say that he salutes President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for his efforts in beginning to bring about amendments, even if it is one at a time.
The President stated that with the amendment to combine and hold both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on the same day, important amendments such as limiting the number of members and amendments to the Judicature Act will be submitted to the Parliament. The President made the assurance last week that both those amendments will be done simultaneously.
According to Gasim, expediting the amendments is important. However, he does call for the amendments to be made in a way that the head of state does not lose their power.
"As I have said before, power is needed to do things, good or bad. If one does not have power, nothing can be done. It will only bring about ruin with each passing day," said Gasim.
While speaking on the positives of combining the two elections, Gasim said that every newly elected President works to gain parliamentary power within the first six months of them taking office. Gasim also said that all the aims of the presidency do not serve the public for those six months.
However, he stated that the combining of the elections would bring that to an end.
"With the combining of the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election, if the sitting President secures a Parliament majority, then so be it. If he does not, then that is that. Those who take the office of the President would conduct themselves as they should if they do not secure a Parliament majority," stated Gasim.
