Parliament has today passed the bill to amend the Constitution to merge presidential and parliamentary elections.
Parliament's Independent Commissions Committee yesterday passed the election merger bill submitted by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP Ibrahim Falah. The committee's report was presented in today's parliament sitting.
In today's sitting, 72 out of the 73 MPs voted in favour of passing the bill.
Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla also voted in favour of the bill.
The only MP who voted against the bill is independent MP for Addu Meedhoo constituency, AbduRahman.
Debate over the committee report on merging presidential and parliamentary elections grew heated in parliament today, leading to the ejection of several opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs from the chamber. While these members were hence unable to vote, even those MDP MPs remaining in the chambers abstained from voting.
During the review of the bill, consultations were held with the Attorney General, Elections Commission and political parties.
The committee resolved that the public referendum on the matter will be held alongside the April 4 Local Council Elections. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu previously announced that he wish for such a referendum to be held.
The President stated then that holding the elections together would be most beneficial to the public, noting it could save MVR 120 million in state funds.
Opposition MDP opposes the move. The party boycotted the committee meetings as well, and has announced that they will stage protests against it.
