Eva says election merger aimed at reducing ruling party campaign costs

Former Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Eva Abdulla, said on Sunday that the government’s plan to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day is intended to reduce campaign costs for the ruling party and consolidate state power.

The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that a referendum will be held alongside the upcoming local council elections to decide whether to shorten the term of the current parliament and hold the two elections together.

Several political parties held a press conference on Sunday opposing the proposal.

Speaking at the press conference, Eva said the claim that the elections would be combined to reduce state expenditure was incorrect.

“In fact, what they are trying to do is to reduce the cost of campaigning for the ruling party, not the government itself, but the ruling party and the president’s party,” she said.

She noted that under the current system the presidential and parliamentary elections are held separately.

“If the two elections are held together, it allows the ruling party to take control of two powers in one campaign by using resources such as money, jobs or contracts,” she said.

Eva added that reducing campaign expenses for a political party should not be presented as reducing state expenditure.

“If the government wants to reduce public spending, there are many ways to do so. Expenditure could be reduced by cutting political appointments, reducing the number of overseas missions and stopping projects that do not provide benefits,” she said.

She said elections are a central part of democratic governance and should not be treated as an area where expenditure should be reduced.

“Elections are one of the foundations of democracy. Elections are a power in the hands of the people. Therefore, cutting expenditure should not start with elections,” she said.

Eva called on the public to vote against the proposal when the referendum is held alongside the local council elections scheduled for 4 April.

She said the proposed change is not a minor administrative adjustment but a change that could affect the electoral system for the long term.