President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections on the same day would create more equal representation for political parties in parliament.
Speaking on Sangu TV’s "Espresso with Raees", the President said synchronizing the two elections would help address longstanding political imbalances.
Elections Commission is currently making final preparations for a referendum on the issue, scheduled to be held on Saturday alongside local council and Women’s Development Committee elections.
President Muizzu said governments elected by the public often face obstruction in parliament from the outset, a pattern he said has been evident in previous administrations.
He added that the six-month gap between Presidential and Parliamentary elections results in lost time, during which newly elected governments struggle to deliver on their mandates.
“A government is elected to serve from day one, but in reality, that work is delayed,” he said.
He argued that holding both elections simultaneously would allow a new administration to begin work immediately, without waiting for parliamentary elections.
He also pointed to recent electoral trends, noting that ruling parties have typically secured supermajorities in parliament. Referring to past presidential election results, he said vote shares between major parties have been relatively close, including around 54 percent for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and 46 percent for the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) in 2008, about 53percent for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in 2013, and 54 percent for PPM against 46 percent for MDP in 2018.
“Based on these trends, if both elections are held on the same day, parliament is more likely to be composed of two or three parties with more equal representation,” he said.
He also suggested that voter turnout would increase under a combined election system, improving the likelihood of balanced outcomes.
Addressing criticism from the opposition, President Muizzu rejected claims that simultaneous elections would reduce engagement between candidates and voters. He said leaders committed to public service would not avoid engaging with the electorate.
The president added that such reforms should be pursued in the national interest, rather than for political gain. He noted that with support from ruling People's National Congress members and independent MPs, a parliamentary supermajority could reach around 80 of the 93 MPs.
President Muizzu said holding both elections together would ultimately contribute to a more “free and fair” electoral process.
