COMMONWEALTH NEWS
Images: Commonwealth Secretariat
The Maldives re-joins the Commonwealth
Under the Constitution of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Article 3:1), the Parliament of the Maldives (People’s Majlis) is eligible to rejoin the CPA’s Association of over 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. The small island nation would also become a member of the CPA Small Branches network which represents jurisdictions with populations of up to 500,000 people and addresses the needs of the smallest Legislatures in the Commonwealth. The Speaker of the People’s Majlis is Hon. Mohamed Nasheed. Following the announcement, a special flag raising ceremony for The Maldives was held at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters, Marlborough House, attended by the Foreign Minister of The Maldives, Hon. Abdulla Shahid; the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, QC; and Dr Farah Faizal, the High Commissioner of The Maldives to the UK along with High Commissioners and representatives from all Commonwealth countries. The Maldives Foreign Minister, Hon. Abdulla Shahid and the Majority Leader in the Maldives Parliament, Hon. Ali Azim, MP met in London with the Acting CPA Secretary-General, Mr Jarvis Matiya to discuss the proposed return of the Parliament of the Maldives (People’s Majlis) to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Acting CPA Secretary-General said: “The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association welcomes the Maldives back into the Commonwealth family and the CPA looks forward to the Parliament of the Maldives (People’s Majlis) rejoining the CPA soon.” Image: CPA Headquarters Secretariat
The Republic of The Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020, becoming the 54th nation of the Commonwealth. The small island nation rejoined the Commonwealth following a process of over a year that began in December 2018 when President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wrote to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, QC expressing the country’s interest in re-joining. Following a country assessment and consultations in accordance with the rules and procedures agreed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Kampala in 2007, the Maldives has now been re-admitted into the organisation. The assessment included positive feedback given by a Commonwealth Election Observer Group for the Parliamentary Elections in April 2019. The Maldives also presented evidence of functioning democratic processes as well as popular support for re-joining. The Commonwealth Secretary-General said: “I warmly congratulate Maldives on its successful application. We are delighted to welcome the country and its people back to the Commonwealth. The reform process underway in Maldives aligns with the values and principles of the Commonwealth and we encourage the nation to continue on this path. Commonwealth members were pleased to note these developments and are happy once again to count Maldives as a member of the family. Together we will support Maldives to realise its ambitions.” The President of the Republic of the Maldives, His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, said: “Today is a happy day for Maldivians as we return to the family of Commonwealth nations. As a young democracy, the Commonwealth’s foundational values of the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, multilateralism and world peace remain relevant to us more than ever. We gratefully acknowledge the support and help of the Commonwealth to the Maldivian democratic movement, and we look forward to the support of fellow member states to ensure the long-term entrenchment of these values in our society.” The Maldives will now take part in the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda from 22 to 28 June 2020 and its Ambassador to the UK now becomes its High Commissioner, signifying its Commonwealth membership. The Maldives joined the Commonwealth in 1982, and withdrew its membership in 2016.
The Parliamentarian | 2020: Issue One | 100th anniverary issue 1920-2020 | 29
