The Parliament has enacted sweeping reforms to the nation’s local governance structure to complement the abolition of Atoll Councils by passing major amendments to establish a new population-based criteria for island and city council membership.
The decisive legislative action followed the submission of the ad hoc committee report reviewing the government-proposed amendments to the Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act and the Local Council Election Act. The amendments passed on Thursday with significant majority support, signaling a commitment to a more streamlined and responsive system of local administration.
The most defining change involves the complete deletion of provisions related to Atoll Councils within the Local Council Election Act. Under the government's proposal, which was approved by the Parliament, the administrative layer currently represented by these councils will cease to exist, consolidating authority at the island and city level.
The amendment to the Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act introduces a variable structure for local councils based on population, replacing the previous standard five-member format for all island councils.
Under the new regulations:
Island Councils (Population less than 2,000): Will elect three councillors, including the council president.
Larger Island Councils: Will elect five councillors, including the council president.
The new amendment introduces mandatory reserved seats for women, ensuring increased female representation in local administrative bodies. Three-member councils must reserve one seat for women, while five-member councils must reserve two seats.
Further professionalisation was mandated for Women’s Development Committees (WDC). The number of WDC members on each island will now mirror the size of the island council. Crucially, the position of the WDC Chairperson will become a full-time, elected role, chosen in the same manner as the council president, aiming to enhance the committee’s influence and administrative capacity.
During the review phase, the ad hoc committee introduced further amendments concerning City Councils, creating a tiered structure based on population density:
7 Councillors (including Mayor): Population between 10,000 and 25,000.
11 Councillors (including Mayor): Population between 25,000 and 50,000.
15 Councillors (including Mayor): Population exceeding 50,000.
The committee also proposed that the allocation of reserved seats for women in city councils be determined by a regulation set forth by the Election Commission of Maldives (ECM).
The most significant amendment affecting political stability is a strict anti-defection clause. Under this new provision, a councillor elected on a political party ticket will immediately lose their seat if they leave or switch parties. Similarly, an independent councillor will forfeit their position should they subsequently join a political party, a measure designed to prevent fragmentation and mandate accountability to the electorate’s original decision.