Parliament has annulled the second amendment to the Maldivian Constitution. The amendment was annulled with 64 members of parliament voting in favour.
Initially proposed by Parliamentarian Ahmed Nihan Hussein Manik, the second amendment to the Maldivian Constitution was passed on July 22, 2015. The amendment was proposed to Article 251, which was an amendment to allow foreign parties to own land in the Maldives.
The amendment was passed by a super majority of 70 members voting in its favour. The amendment was passed including votes from 44 parliamentarians from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), 11 parliamentarians from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 9 parliamentarians from Jumhooree Party (JP) and 5 parliamentarians from Maldives Development Alliance (MDA). Only 14 parliamentarians voted against it, including the current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Vice President Faisal Naseem.
The amendment allowed foreigners who invest more than USD 1 billion to purchase land within the project site. Ironically, it was PPM Parliamentarian Abdulla Rifau who proposed to annul the amendment. He was one of the parliamentarians who voted in favour of the amendment in 2015.
However, proposing its annulment he claimed, allowing foreign parties to own land in the Maldives compromises its sovereignty. Supporting his claim, MDP Parliamentarian Rozaina Adam argued that such a decision should be made only via a referendum.
However, those who spoke against the annulment stated it is a policy practiced in other parts of the world as well and claimed some people have spread misinformation about the amendment, sparking terror among the public.
Annulling the second amendment was a presidential pledge of President Solih. The sudden increase in overturning decisions made during the previous administration has sparked criticism from supporters on both sides of the political landscape.