Falah backs referendum on holding simultaneous elections

Ruling party PNC's parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah has come out in support of the referendum vote in combining and holding both the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election on the day of the Local Council Election.

A Referendum Bill has been submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the government. The bill had been researched before the Parliament's previous recess, with a report having been sent to the Parliament via the Committee on Independent Institutions.

During last night's opening ceremony of the PNC's Central Henveiru campaign office, Falah stated that he intends to make the required amendments to the Constitution and send them for ratification to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu after the Parliament reconvenes on Thursday.

Falah said the amendment is a Referendum Bill intended to merge the two elections.

Falah went on to say that work is being done to reduce the current Parliament session by six months to bring about a system in appointing Parliament members along with the Presidential Election. He also said that the members made the decision to give up the six months for the sake of the nation in support of the President's work regarding amendments.

"At that point, I believe that the amendments we are bringing about is to prepare a system where the reduction of the Parliament's session by six months so that the Parliament and Presidential elections can be held simultaneously," said Falah.

According to Falah, if a referendum vote is requested on the day of the Local Council Election which would also cover the aforementioned election, MVR 80 million would be saved from the state's budget. He also said that if the Elections Commission (EC) does not hold the vote on 4th April (the day of the Local Council Election), an additional MVR 80 million will have to be spent from the state budget.

"If the referendum vote in combining both elections is not held, whereby the EC has to make additional preparations to hold the election on another day, an additional MVR 80 million has to be spent from the state budget," said Falah.

With that reasoning, he believes that the request to combine both elections will be made on 4th April.

Falah stated that there is overflowing support from the public regarding the government's work in bringing about amendments to the Constitution. However, he said that MDP is opposing these amendments and that there are specific reasons regarding the opposition.

Falah said the MDP does not support the amendments due to concerns that President Muizzu’s administration could be prolonged if he is re-elected and granted a second term. He noted that the MDP has opposed other important amendments as well, and pointed out that although the budget vote was a significant matter, MDP members did not cast their votes on it either. Falah accused the party of attempting to obstruct government projects.

Falah also stated the campaigns in support of the MDP candidates who are running for the upcoming election have an undertone that they are to be elected in order to hold the government accountable. But, Falah said that councilors are not to be elected to hold the government responsible and criticized MDP. He went on to say that three powers are completely separate in Maldives' governing system. And so, he said that no additional powers should be put into place to hold the government accountable.

While advocating for the combining of the two elections, President Muizzu has said previously that the state had to spend more than MVR 180 million on the most recent Presidential Election, with an expenditure beyond MVR 120 million for the Parliamentary Election as well. And so, the President said that the most beneficial course of action is to combine both the elections.

The Referendum Bill submitted to Parliament proposes changing the presidential swearing in date from 17 November to 11 November, combining parliamentary and presidential elections, and holding a referendum on abolishing the second round of voting in presidential elections. The bill also provides for additional referendums on matters of national importance.