Crowe Maldives sends best wishes to the Speaker and the President on the occasion of the Parliament Opening Day

We look forward to this term of the parliament with optimism and excitement to witness the changing shape of the legal and legislative landscape of the country and provide foresight to our clients.

A strong legal and regulatory framework ensures investor confidence, protection of private property, and individual rights which are essential for building a thriving economy.

The Parliament of Maldives (People’s Majlis) is the legislative organ of the state and its role and functions are defined in the Chapter Three of the Constitution of the Maldives. Under the Constitution the Parliament is vested with the powers of law-making, the whole of government accountability, budget approval, affairs of independent state institutions, and call for a public referendum.

The Constitution of Maldives requires the President to address the Parliament on the first sitting of the first term. The Presidential address highlights the state of affairs of the country and the government’s plans and initiatives.

During the last year, there were several interesting bills discussed in the Parliament. They include bills on a variety of themes on tops; local councils, decentralization, real estate, airport taxes, renting of dwellings, civil procedures, statistics, insolvency, insurance, energy, a revision to employment act, a revision to export-import act, revisions to audit act, a revision to tax administration act, as well as a revision to MMA (Monetary Authority) act.

An important milestone for the accounting profession was the passing of the Chartered Accountants Bill and the formation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Maldives, as the body responsible for regulating and developing the audit and accountancy profession.

The Maldives Parliament composed of 87 members elected from 22 geographical constituencies under the proportional representation system where two members are elected from the first 5000 and a member for each subsequent 5000. The members are elected for a period of five years from the date of the first sitting. There are three terms per year.

Prior to Constitutional Reform in 2008, the Parliament composed of two members elected from each administrative, two members elected from the capital Male’ and eight presidential appointees.

This is the 19th sitting of the Maldives Parliament. The first sitting of the parliament was recorded in 1933.