Election merger amendment to go to referendum, says Falah

A proposed constitutional amendment to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date and shorten the term of the current parliament will be implemented only after approval through a public referendum, Majority Leader of the People’s Majlis Ibrahim Falah said on Monday.

President Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that a referendum would be held to decide on merging the two elections. While a referendum has not yet taken place, the government has moved a constitutional amendment on the matter.

The first reading of the bill began during an extraordinary sitting of parliament on Monday, despite the legislature currently being in recess.

Speaking during the debate, Falah, who also leads the parliamentary group of the ruling People’s National Congress and represents Inguraidhoo, said the bill would be passed by parliament and sent to the President for ratification.

He said Article 260 of the Constitution requires a referendum for amendments related to the term of parliament and provisions concerning fundamental rights. Under the proposed amendment, the term of parliament would be revised.

Falah said that even if the bill is approved by parliament and ratified by the President, the amendment would still be subject to a referendum. He said the current period was suitable for introducing the amendment.

He said the timing was linked to upcoming local council elections, adding that the government intended to hold the referendum alongside the council polls scheduled for April. Holding a separate referendum, he said, would incur an additional cost of MVR 80 million.

Falah said the bill would not be passed during the extraordinary sitting and rejected claims by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party that the amendment was being rushed for political reasons.

He said the bill would be reviewed at the committee stage, during which consultations would be held with relevant parties.