Public must be able to remove elected officials: President Muizzu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that true public empowerment can only be achieved when the people hold the authority to remove elected officials from office.

Speaking on the sixth episode of the "Rayyithunnaa Eku" podcast, he discussed a series of proposed constitutional and electoral reforms.

He advocated for developing a democratic system suited to Maldives, rather than replicating foreign models. Among the key proposals were:

- Holding presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently to improve efficiency

- Introducing a preferential voting system for presidential elections, which could eliminate the need for a runoff vote, reduce costs, and enhance voter participation.

- Capping the number of MPs at the current 93

- Revising eligibility criteria for local councils and Women’s Development Committees, and restructuring Atoll Councils with 3 members for populations under 2,000 and 5 for larger communities

- Ensuring oversight on council fund usage in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance

The President stressed that all changes will undergo public consultation and, where necessary, referenda.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and hinted at a possible amendment to revise the start date of presidential terms through proper legal processes.