Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu ratified the country’s Anti-Defection Bill on Tuesday. The bill grants legal enforcement for lawmakers who defect to another party and lose their parliament seats.

The president’s office announced that the bill was approved on April 1.

Local media reported that the bill was proposed by Member of Parliament (MP) Ahmed Abdulla, who represented the parliament’s majority, Maldivian Democratic Party.

According to the president’s office, the new law governs MPs, atoll and island councillors, and members of Women’s Development Committees (WDCs).

All in the categories will now be required to resign from their political positions should they switch political parties.

Under the Anti-Defection Bill, councillors and members of WDCs will lose their seats if they resign from the parties through which they were elected or switch political parties.

The office also said the law would be applied if independent members signed for political parties.

(Xinhua/NAN)