President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the twelfth amendment to the Decentralization Act (Act No. 07/2010) on Sunday. The amendment was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the 25th sitting of its second session this year. 
 
The following changes were brought to the Decentralization Act through this amendment:

  • In the event that the positions of Atoll Council President, Island Council Members, and City Council Members become vacant, the Local Government Authority (LGA) must notify the Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) of any vacancy within 14 days, and to address such a vacancy, the Election Commission must schedule a by-election within 183 days of the notification by the LGA. However, if the remaining term of the Council is 365 days or less at the time of the vacancy, the bill stipulates that it is not mandatory to hold a by-election to elect members for the vacant positions.
  • The amendment also specifies that in the event that the position of vice president or deputy mayor of the council becomes vacant, these positions shall be filled within 30 days according to the procedure outlined in the Decentralization Act.
  • Additionally, due to vacancies in council member positions, if the quorum for council meetings is not met, the Local Government Authority (LGA) must inform the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) of the vacancies, and within 60 days of such notification, the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) must hold by-elections to elect members to these positions.

Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into effect.