President ratifies the 12th Amendment Bill to the Decentralization Act

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On Sunday, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the twelfth amendment to the Decentralization Act (Act No. 07/2010), marking a significant update to the legislative framework governing local councils in the Maldives. The amendment, which was passed by Parliament on August 7, 2024, during the 25th sitting of its second session, introduces key changes aimed at enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of local governance.

One of the pivotal changes brought by this amendment is the introduction of a clear timeline for addressing vacancies within Atoll Councils, Island Councils, and City Councils. The Local Government Authority (LGA) is now required to notify the Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) of any vacancy within 14 days of its occurrence. Following this notification, the ECM must schedule a by-election within 183 days to fill the vacant position. However, if the remaining term of the council is 365 days or less at the time of the vacancy, the amendment stipulates that it is not mandatory to hold a by-election.

The amendment also addresses the procedure for filling the positions of vice president or deputy mayor of a council. Should these positions become vacant, the Decentralization Act now requires that they be filled within 30 days according to the prescribed procedure.

Furthermore, in cases where council member vacancies lead to a failure to meet the quorum for council meetings, the LGA is mandated to inform the ECM of these vacancies. The ECM is then required to organize by-elections to fill the positions within 60 days of receiving such notification.

With the ratification by President Muizzu, the amended Act has been published in the Government Gazette and has officially come into effect, signaling a new phase in the governance of local councils across the Maldives.