President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih says that he believes the Parliament would remain within its mandate amid talks of the legislative house reaching for new powers.

Allegations have surfaced that states that the parliament is seeking to control Maldives Police Services after government-sponsored ‘Police Services Bill’ was proposed to the parliament floor. Also, a controversial amendment to the Public Health Act that states that the parliament approval should be sought before a state of public health emergency is declared has also raised a few eyebrows.

Answering a question from ‘The Press’ at today’s news briefing, President Solih said that he too had worked in the parliament for a substantial amount of time and that the parliament would make decisions within the mandate afforded to the legislative power as per the laws of the country.

The President also clarified that the government proposed the ‘Police Service Bill’ with the intention to reform the police force and that the bill is complete.

The new bill gives the parliament’s 241 committee extensive powers over the police force with both the commissioner of police and the Home Minister held accountable by the committee.