Law No. 2010/7, the law on the administration of administrative departments of the Maldives based on decentralized principles, is an important system established to provide services to citizens in the most comprehensive manner, to place decisions on development of villages directly to citizens and to the councils elected by those citizens.

However, by amending the law under the name of implementing government projects through decisions made by the Council of Ministers, diverting funds in the councils' accounts is contrary to the foundations of the decentralized system, and is not consistent with democratic practices that can be done to strengthen central authority by weakening the powers of councils.

And moreover, as per the 8th amendment to the law passed by the 19th People's Majlis that concluded, the limitations of the powers granted to councils, and by transferring ownership again to the central government, removing all the powers granted by the decentralized law from any decision regarding land in villages to be made by the elected representatives of the people through a council representing the citizens, does not respect the decisions of the people.

The councils do not consider that any decision regarding land and property within the scope of village expertise granted by the decentralized law, without the consent of the people and without the consent of the representatives elected by the people, can be decided by the government whenever it wishes.

The economic and social impacts of investments made in villages by councils and private parties, and the integrity of master plans for development coordinated by councils, can suffer significant economic or social losses from the government's arbitrary decisions at any time.

After a land is taken, providing financial changes is not a real solution to the loss caused to the development of the village and public interests by separating the building from the citizens' accounts.

The legal powers granted to citizens and their elected representatives under the decentralized system, contrary to the Constitution of the Maldives and democratic principles, weakening them and transferring them entirely to the Council of Ministers not elected by direct election of the people is not a matter that can be considered justified.

The People's Majlis made this decision without adhering to democratic principles and without the will of the people, failing to consider the views being expressed by villagers on this matter, and without paying attention to the petition submitted to the People's Majlis to reject this bill, and without regard to democratic principles, this bill was passed. This is a matter of great concern and regret to this council.

And previously, due to the amendments to the decentralized law, important financial and administrative matters have been prevented from being carried out, and the powers of councils have been limited. This has proven to be an obstacle in serving the people, and we continue to see this. And this is a matter that deeply regrets this council.

For other reasons, the changes to the decentralized law weaken people's authority and the legal interests of councils, so this council recommends that this bill not be approved and be returned to the President of the Republic.