The government has made it clear that it does not want union executives to hold both union and political party official positions as they would use the union post for their political interests and benefits.
Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the new Registration of Political Parties Decree is clear that public officers are not allowed to be applicants or members of a proposed party.
The new decree disallows members of the military, police, Corrections Services, members of a statutory body or a commission or a board, judges and magistrates, union executives and the CEO or the President of the Employers Federation from starting a party.
Sayed-Khaiyum said they decided that union executives should be part of the list as the government does not want any undue influence.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the people who intend to be part of a political party just have to resign from their union executive post.
The same applies to other people listed under the term public officer which means any member of the disciplined services would also have to resign if they want to be in a party.
However, Sayed-Khaiyum clarified that a public officer does not mean the President, the Prime Minister or a Minister.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Union executives have to resign if they want to form party
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