The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has accused the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of opposing the merger of presidential and parliamentary elections due to concerns over MPs’ salaries.
Speaking at the opening of a campaign booth for PNC candidates contesting the April 4 local council elections in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo, PNC parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah alleged that the MDP’s refusal to hold the two elections simultaneously was linked to potential salary deductions for 12 of its MPs.
Falah claimed that if the elections were merged, those MPs would lose six months of salary.
“How can the people of this country live with such people? I am talking about hundreds of millions available to a country and the six months’ salary of 12 MDP MPs. This is a problem,” he said.
Falah, who also serves as PNC’s campaign manager for the local council elections, said the MDP would not contest 450 out of 1,352 seats in the upcoming local council and Women’s Development Committee elections.
“They have already lost, right? That’s about 30 percent of the seats in terms of percentage,” he said, arguing that the figures demonstrate a decline in support for the opposition party.
He further alleged that the MDP has been divided into factions and claimed the party has lost public trust due to what he described as social and economic “damage to the state” since 2008.
“I believe that MDP will not be able to get back on its feet. Then the best way for them will be to form a new political party,” Falah said.
Addressing the proposed merger of presidential and parliamentary elections, Falah said combining the two polls would save approximately MVR 80 million annually from the state budget. He added that holding the elections together could increase voter turnout.
“In major countries of the world, presidential and parliamentary elections are held together. In many countries, they are held together. Especially because there are many benefits,” he said.
Falah stated that the April 4 election would require a referendum vote in order to merge future presidential and parliamentary elections.
