President proposes recall vote for elected officials
President Muizzu emphasised that all elected positions would be subject to the recall process, including his own.
President Mohamed Muizzu has announced a proposal to amend the Constitution to allow the public to remove elected officials, including the President, through a recall vote.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Muizzu outlined a series of constitutional changes aimed at reshaping the country’s political framework.
The proposed amendment would enable citizens to vote out elected officials—including parliamentarians, councillors, and the President—mid-term, if a recall vote of no confidence is passed.
"This is to empower the people," said President Muizzu. "If the people who elected a leader no longer want them in office, they should have the constitutional right to remove them—even before their term ends."
In addition to the recall mechanism, the proposed constitutional reforms include:
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Holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously
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Changing the presidential election to a preferential voting system without a second round
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Fixing the presidential term start date to November 11
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Maintaining the number of MPs at 93
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Abolishing Atoll Councils
President Muizzu emphasised that all elected positions would be subject to the recall process, including his own.
“Then of course, if all the people in elective positions are included [in the recall vote], I should be included,” he stated.
This initiative builds upon a similar proposal made last year by Attorney General Ahmed Usham, which initially focused on allowing the removal of MPs. Previous attempts under the MDP-led government to introduce recall votes were later withdrawn.
