President asks MPs to back ending presidential runoff
President Muizzu expressed his intention to hold a referendum later this year.
President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday urged parliamentarians of his People's National Congress (PNC) to support a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the second round of presidential elections in the Maldives.
The President made the request during a meeting with the PNC Parliamentary Group at the presidential residence on Wednesday afternoon.
According to multiple sources who attended the closed-door meeting and spoke with Atoll Times on condition of anonymity, President Muizzu expressed his intention to hold a referendum later this year. The referendum would pave the way for sweeping changes to the country’s electoral and governance frameworks — including a move to declare the winner of the first round as president, regardless of whether they secure more than 50% of the vote.
"For one thing, the president said he would go for a referendum this year. He shared that with the members and asked for their support," said one of the attendees.
During the meeting, the President outlined four key areas where he is seeking support from PNC MPs:
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Cancellation of the Second Round of Presidential Elections: Currently, the Maldives requires a runoff election if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote in the first round. President Muizzu is pushing to amend the Constitution so that the candidate with the highest number of votes in the first round is declared the winner, eliminating the need for a second round.
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Synchronisation of Elections: The President proposed holding the presidential and parliamentary elections together in future cycles. This would require amendments to the electoral calendar and Constitution.
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Decentralisation Reform: Muizzu reiterated his plan to reduce the number of local councillors — suggesting three councillors for populations under 500, and five for populations above that threshold. He also proposed abolishing the Atoll Councils altogether, calling for broader amendments to the Decentralisation Act.
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Change in Presidential Inauguration Date: The President is advocating to change the presidential inauguration date to November 11, which is celebrated as Republic Day in the Maldives. Due to delays in the 2013 election, the inauguration has since shifted to November 17.
This is not the first time President Muizzu has hinted at constitutional changes. Over the past year, he has raised similar points at various official forums, indicating a long-term vision to overhaul key elements of the Maldivian democratic process.
While no official timeline for the proposed referendum has been released, insiders suggest preparations are already underway behind the scenes to mobilise support within Parliament and the public.
