Maldives

Population Statistics

393,253

Total Population

58,988

Population with a disability

according to World Health Organization’s 15% estimate

Election Dates

05 April 2010

Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities


Constitution of the Republic of Maldives (1998, last amended 2008)

Updated: June 2015

Article 73 states:

(a) A person elected to be a member of the People’s Majlis shall be so qualified if he:

(1) is a citizen of the Maldives;

(2) is not a citizen of a foreign country;

(3) is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

(4) has attained the age of eighteen years; and

(5) is of sound mind.

 

Article 100 states:

(a) The People’s Majlis, by a resolution, may remove the President or the Vice President from office only on the grounds of:

(1) direct violation of a tenet of Islam, the Constitution or law;

(2) serious misconduct unsuited to the office of the President or Vice President; or

(3) inability to perform the responsibilities of office of President or Vice President.

 

Article 109 states:

A person elected as President shall have the following qualifications:

(a) be a Maldivian citizen born to parents who are
Maldivian citizens, and who is not also a citizen of a foreign country;

(b) be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

(c) be at least thirty-five years of age;

(d) be of sound mind...

 

Article 122 states:

If the office of Vice President becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, permanent incapacity, or succession to the office of the President, the President shall appoint a new Vice President to serve the remainder of the term. The appointment shall be approved by the People’s Majlis.

 

Article 124 states:

(a) In the event of the absence or temporary incapacity of both the President and the Vice President to carry out the duties of office of the President, the duties shall be carried out, in order of priority, by the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, or by the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, or by a member of the People’s Majlis elected by a resolution of the People’s Majlis, until the President or Vice President are able to resume the duties of office.

(b) In the event of the permanent incapacity, resignation, removal or death of both the President or the Vice President, and both offices becoming vacant at the same time, leading to an incapacity to carry out the duties of the President, until such time as a President and a Vice President shall be elected, the duties of both offices shall temporarily be carried out, in order of priority, by the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, or by the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, or by a member of the People’s Majlis elected by a resolution of the People’s Majlis, until successors in office are chosen.

(c) The qualifications of office for any person temporarily assuming the office of the President shall be the same as those for the President.

 

Article 130, subsection (a) states:

A person shall be qualified to be a member of the Cabinet if he:

(1) is a citizen of the Maldives;

(2) is not a citizen of a foreign country;

(3) is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

(4) has attained the age of twenty-five years;

(5) is of sound mind.

 

Article 149, subsection (b) states:

In addition to the qualifications specified in article (a), a Judge shall possess the following qualifications:

(1) be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

(2) be twenty-five years of age;

(3) has not been convicted of an offence for which a hadd is prescribed in Islam, criminal breach of trust, or bribery;

(4) be of sound mind.

 

Excerpts from the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives (1998, last amended 2008)