Despite Parliament passing the bill on election postponement, the President continued to refer to the parliamentary elections as "the upcoming elections scheduled for March 17".
Despite Parliament voting today and passing for the second time the amendments to the General Elections Act which prohibit the holding of elections in Ramadan, effectively postponing the upcoming parliamentary elections, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu continues to disregard this fact in his speeches.
The amendments passed today would call for the parliamentary elections to be held on April 20 now.
However, speaking in Noonu Atoll Holhudhoo today, the President continued to refer to the parliamentary elections as "the upcoming elections scheduled for March 17".
In the public gathering held in Holhudhoo this afternoon, the President said, "You must decide the future in the elections being held on March 17. My hope is to roll up my sleeves and go forward with the government to take Maldives in the direction the people want to take it in."
President Dr Muizzu strongly criticized the parliament in which opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds the majority.
The President stated that today, the Parliament appears to be exerting influence even over the justice system, and that even a Supreme Court order held no weight for the legislative.
While the President continues to refer to the election date as remaining on March 17, MDP has said that based on an earlier Supreme Court ruling, the President must ratify the election postponement bill passed by parliament immediately, within the day.
During the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed, he delayed ratification of a bill passed twice by the parliament in this same manner. Fonadhoo constituency MP at the time, and current Special Advisor the President, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, subsequently lodged a case at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's ruling on this case reads that unless a circumstance that is beyond human control is obstructing the matter, the President must ratify the bill without any delay.
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