Referendum on merging elections with April 4 council polls

The public referendum on holding presidential and parliamentary elections on the same date and shortening the term of the current parliament will be held on the day of the upcoming council elections.

The announcement was made in a decree issued on Monday by President Mohamed Muizzu. The referendum will ask voters the following question:

“Do you approve the ratification of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the Presidential and People’s Majlis elections to be held concurrently and for a change to the term of the People’s Majlis?”

The vote will be held on Saturday, 4 April, the same day as the local council and women’s development committee elections.

Under the decree, the Elections Commission of Maldives has been instructed to conduct the referendum in accordance with the law.

The proposed constitutional amendment, which shortens the five-year term of the current 20th parliament to 1 December 2028 and merges parliamentary and presidential elections, was passed by parliament on Tuesday.

The government said the amendment would result in savings of MVR 80 million from the state budget.

Under the amendment, the 2028 presidential election and the 2029 parliamentary election would be held on the same date. The current 20th parliament began its term on 28 May 2024 and, under the existing constitution, its term would expire in May 2029.

The amendment changes the start of the parliamentary term from May to 1 December for a five-year period, after which parliament would be dissolved.