The parliament began to draft legislation the government intends to introduce, sparking protest from cabinet ministers.
Bills sent to the parliament are traditionally drafted by the Attorney General and passed on to the majlis.
However the parliament began drafting government’s bills on Tuesday with the speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed nonchalantly defending the lawmakers decision.
Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath attacked the parliament on Tuesday stating that “a parliament with integrity” should allow the government to draft their own bills.
“Government propes its bills to the parliament to fulfil the pledges of the government. The bills state main policies and the agenda of the government. A parliament with integrity will give the government the opportunity,” he wrote on Twitter.
Minister for Youth and Sport Ahmed Mahloof also condemned the parliament stating that bills proposed by the government should be drafted by the Attorney General.
“That work should be done by the Attorney General’s Office,” Mahloof, who sat in the parliament for 10 years said.
Meanwhile addressing the parliament of Wednesday Nasheed claimed that the constitution allows the parliament to draft and propose bills.
“Political parties are also allowed to proposed bills to the parliament. That is to make it easy to run the government even if the president does not have the majority of the government,” he said.
The parliament began drafting the Minimum Wage Act, Income Tax bill and Unemployment Benefits Act on Wednesday.
