The People’s Majlis Committee on Independent Institutions has voted to make its review of the highly significant Public Referendum Bill confidential, effectively shielding its deliberations from public and media scrutiny.

The closed-door decision was made at a committee meeting that began at 9 AM today. The motion to classify the meeting as confidential was proposed by Deputy Chair MP Abdullah Shareef (Kelaa constituency) and seconded by MP Ibrahim Hussain (Fuvahmulah Central). The proposal passed with a majority vote, and no further details of the meeting have been disclosed.

A Bill With Far-Reaching Implications

The bill, submitted by the government through Majority Leader MP Ibrahim Falah (Inguraidhoo constituency), is aimed at establishing a legal framework for conducting public referendums—a democratic mechanism currently not governed by any law in the Maldives.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Authority to Call Referendums:
• • The People’s Majlis can decide to hold a referendum on matters of public interest.
  • The President can initiate a referendum on national-level issues.
• Mandatory Referendums for:
• • Changing fundamental rights provisions in the Constitution.
  • Altering the term of the People’s Majlis or the presidency.
  • Modifying the method of electing the President.
  • Changing national territory or ratification processes for certain bills.
• Timeline Requirements:
• • A minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days must be allowed between the referendum’s announcement and the actual vote.
• Balanced Public Information:
• • An information paper outlining both sides of the issue must be published prior to any referendum.
• Funding:
• • Referendum costs will be covered by the State Consolidated Revenue Fund, as specified under the Public Finance Act.
• Oversight:
• • The Elections Commission will be responsible for conducting the referendums.

Concerns Over Transparency

The committee's decision to keep its deliberations secret has sparked early concerns over transparency, especially given the bill’s implications for direct public participation in governance. Critics argue that the law, which touches on fundamental rights and electoral systems, should be debated in a transparent manner with opportunities for public input and media oversight.

Although the bill aims to introduce structured and democratic mechanisms for public referendums, the secretive approach to reviewing it may raise suspicions about the government’s broader intentions, particularly as issues such as voting visibility, constitutional changes, and presidential powers are involved.