Govt proposes constitutional amendment to align pres, parliamentary elections

The government has submitted a proposed amendment to the Constitution to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date and to shorten the term of the 20th parliament to end on 1 December 2028.

An extraordinary sitting of the parliament is scheduled for Monday to table the proposed amendment.

The amendment was submitted by Ibrahim Falah, parliamentary group leader of the People’s National Congress, on behalf of the government.

The proposal seeks to add a provision to Article 72 of the Constitution, which governs the election of members of parliament. Under the amendment, parliamentary elections would be held at the same time as the presidential election. As a result, the presidential election scheduled for 2028 and the parliamentary election due in 2029 would take place on the same date.

The current 20th parliament commenced on 28 May 2024. Under the existing Constitution, its five-year term would conclude in May 2029. The proposed amendment provides that future parliamentary terms would begin on 1 December and run for five years, after which parliament would stand dissolved.

The amendment states that, once enacted, the term of the current parliament would expire on 1 December 2028. This would reduce the term of the current parliament by approximately five months. As a result, members would forgo an estimated MVR 400,000 in salary payments.

President Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that presidential and parliamentary elections should be held together through a public referendum. He said the Constitution would be amended accordingly if approved by voters.

The amendment was submitted to parliament ahead of any referendum on the matter.