Parliament rejects local council term extension bill

Parliament on Monday rejected an amendment to Article 231 (C) of the Constitution.

The amendment, tabled for debate by Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir, sought to change the term of local councils from 3 to 5 years.

The bill failed to garner three quarters majority of the Parliament, as per Article 261 of the Constitution.

Only 51 members voted in favour of the bill, while 17 voted against it with 2 abstentions.

The First Reading of the Bill was held on August 1, and reviewed by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.