Suood calls on govt to clarify plan to combine elections

Former Husnu Suood on Monday said the government should clarify its agenda regarding the proposal to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

The remarks come as a referendum has been announced to shorten the term of the current parliament and allow the two elections to take place together.

The referendum will determine whether the change will be adopted.

A campaign group opposing the proposal has also begun activities encouraging voters to reject the referendum. The group released a video on social media featuring Suood outlining her views on the issue.

Suood said there are constitutional matters that require reform but questioned why the government is focusing on combining the two elections without addressing those issues.

According to Suood, several areas of the constitution require review. These include the increasing number of members in the People’s Majlis over successive terms and the influence of political actors in independent institutions.

He referred to institutions including the Judicial Service Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Elections Commission of Maldives.

Suood said the presence of political figures in some of these institutions raises governance concerns.

He also said presidents have continued to appoint individuals to political posts without a limit.

“These matters require reform and many people and political parties agree on this,” he said.

Suood also noted that it can be difficult for a president to govern without holding a majority in parliament.

He said the government should explain why combining elections has become a priority.

“If the government has good intentions, it should also assure that other reforms will be addressed,” he said.

Suood added that the timing and broader objectives of the proposal should be explained to the public.

“If these matters are not explained, it will be difficult to believe there is a clear intention,” he said.