Previous Independent Commission Appointees Lacked Professionalism," Says Deputy Speaker Nazim

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim expressed concerns over the professionalism of members appointed to independent commissions by the previous administration. His remarks came during discussions on proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, which seek to grant the President the authority to appoint the president and vice-president of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM).

The amendment aims to enhance the effectiveness of independent commissions and streamline the appointment process by allowing the President to select the president and vice-president of these commissions from among their existing members. The nominees would then be subject to parliamentary approval.

Deputy Speaker Nazim emphasized the need for reform, citing public dissatisfaction with the performance of the ACC, despite new appointments by the previous administration. Nazim underscored that the current government aims to establish a system for monitoring the commission's effectiveness and noted his belief that the President should hold the exclusive authority to appoint the heads of such commissions, in contrast to the current method of internal voting.

Under current regulations, commission leaders are elected by an internal vote within the commission. The amendments propose that resignations from the president or vice-president of ACC and ECM be directed to the President of the Maldives, rather than within the commission, reflecting a shift towards greater executive oversight.