President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to Act No. 7/2010 (Decentralisation Act), introducing key legislative changes aimed at reducing the financial burden caused by frequent mid-term by-elections in local councils.
The amendment addresses the rising number of council vacancies that have triggered repeated by-elections, placing a strain on public resources. The newly ratified law introduces specific conditions under which by-elections will be avoided, allowing for more cost-effective governance while ensuring local councils and committees remain functional.
Key reforms outlined in the Amendment include:
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Council Chairperson Vacancies: If a chairperson’s position becomes vacant with 548 days or fewer remaining in the council’s term, no by-election will be held—unless the number of remaining council members is too low to meet the quorum required for convening meetings.
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Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Vacancies: Similarly, if a WDC member’s position becomes vacant within 548 days of the committee’s term ending, no replacement will be elected unless the number of remaining members is insufficient to meet the quorum required to hold meetings.
The bill was passed by the People’s Majlis during its 32nd sitting of the first session of the 2025 parliamentary term, held on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Following the President’s ratification, the Amendment has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into legal effect.
This legislative update reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline administrative processes and ensure fiscal responsibility in the decentralised governance system.