MDP rejects holding presidential and parliamentary elections together, alleges government seeking to extend term

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) opposes to the government’s proposal to amend the Constitution to hold parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously said MDP interim chairperson and Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa today.

Speaking in Parliament, he said the party believes the move is not aimed at cutting costs, but is an attempt to extend the government’s term.

“MDP does not support merging the two elections. If this is to be done, a thorough study through MNU should be conducted first,” Ghafoor said.

He added that the government and ruling party media had repeatedly suggested the plan was intended to extend the current administration for 10 years.

Ghafoor questioned the rationale for merging the elections to save money, noting that other simultaneous public spending initiatives, such as the recruitment of 500 people for public works, would cost MVR 72 million a year.

“The claim that merging the two elections will reduce state expenditure is absolutely false,” he said.

He suggested that if cost reduction were the genuine goal, a more logical approach would be to combine presidential and local council elections instead, keeping parliamentary elections mid-term.

The bill, submitted on Saturday by PNC MP and parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falaah, proposes shortening the current parliamentary term so that elections for both Parliament and the presidency are held together.

Under the proposed bill, parliamentary elections would be held every five years alongside presidential elections. The term of office of Parliament would be five years, beginning on December 1.

According to the bill, the current parliamentary term expires on December 1, 2028. Therefore, parliamentary elections would be held before that date, together with the presidential election.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that holding the two elections together would result in significant cost savings for the state.

MP Falaah said that simultaneous elections would save an estimated MVR 70 million from the state budget.

Parliament last year also passed a Referendum Act to allow public opinion to be sought on major national issues. The legislation enables changes such as moving the presidential inauguration date from November 17 to November 11, holding presidential and parliamentary elections together, and conducting a referendum on abolishing the second round of presidential elections.

However, former President Mohamed Nasheed has expressed support for the proposal while former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has rejected it.