MDP opposes proposal to merge pres, parliamentary elections
He said the proposal was being advanced without sufficient study and alleged that it was linked to a separate mandate.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) does not support holding presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date, interim party chair Abdul Ghafoor Moosa said on Monday, alleging that the move was intended to extend the term of office to 10 years.
The government has proposed a constitutional amendment to hold presidential and parliamentary elections together and to shorten the term of the current People’s Majlis to December 2028. Ghafoor, the MDP member for Hanimaadhoo, spoke against the bill during debate at an extraordinary sitting of parliament.
Ghafoor said the MDP opposed the proposal and that no member of the party supported merging the two elections. He said the proposal was being advanced without sufficient study and alleged that it was linked to a separate mandate.
He said that if elections were to be merged, an independent study should be conducted by the Maldives National University and decisions should be based on its findings.
Ghafoor said government-linked media and the ruling People’s National Congress had discussed extending the government’s term to 10 years. He alleged that the proposed amendment would facilitate such a change.
The government has said the proposal is intended to reduce costs. Ghafoor rejected this explanation and said that if cost reduction were the objective, presidential and local council elections could be held together, with parliamentary elections conducted mid-term.
He said the government continued to expand the public workforce while citing cost concerns. He referred to plans to recruit 500 staff for public works, which he said would cost MVR 72 million annually, and noted the expansion of ministries following the abolition of atoll councils.
Ghafoor said expenditure on employee salaries had increased from MVR 11 billion to MVR 17 billion and claimed that a large number of political appointments had been made. He said the government had acknowledged employing 2,000 political staff, while he estimated the number at 4,100.
He said the proposed amendment risked concentrating power and called for more time for public consideration. He said holding an extraordinary session limited public input and alleged that the move was intended to retain power.
Ghafoor said the MDP did not support merging the two elections. He noted that former president Mohamed Nasheed had supported the proposal, while former MDP chair Fayyaz Ismail had proposed holding parliamentary elections separately.
