Smaller parties propose safeguards in referendum bill

Smaller political parties represented in the Parliament’s Finance Committee have proposed amendments to the government-sponsored referendum bill, raising concerns that referendums could be triggered too easily, potentially affecting national stability and placing financial pressure on the state.

The Finance Committee is currently reviewing the bill, which was introduced by the government earlier this month to establish a special legal framework before moving ahead with a referendum on proposals announced by President Mohamed Muizzu.

As part of the committee's review process, relevant parties are being invited to share their views. A meeting was held Tuesday with representatives of the Elections Commission and several political parties, including the Jumhooree Party (JP), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), and Maldives National Party (MNP).

JP Deputy Leader and former Transport Minister Dr Ameen Ibrahim presented three key points during the discussion:

Dr Ameen said the bill should not create a mechanism through which referendums can be called without adequate scrutiny, even if a parliamentary majority supports it. He noted that conducting referendums incurs significant costs and could have broader implications due to the Maldives’ economic dependence on tourism.

He stated: “Going to such a general election is very expensive. The country’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Therefore, such a big change could come in the future.”

Dr Ameen also said that although a parliamentary majority might support such a resolution, the financial situation of the state may not allow for its implementation. He reiterated the need to consider the implications of allowing a referendum through a simple majority.

MDA Secretary General Shah Ismail and MNP representative Fatimath Shareef expressed support for Dr Ameen’s remarks.

Fatimath Shareef suggested the bill should specify the number of referendums allowed per year. She also recommended adopting e-voting to reduce associated costs.

All three parties present at the meeting said they would submit further proposals in writing.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), People’s National Front (PNF), and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) did not attend the meeting.