Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal Calls for Public Petition Clause in Referendum Bill

Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal has called on the government to include a public petition mechanism in the proposed Public Referendum Bill, arguing that such a provision is essential to truly empower citizens and ensure their voices are heard in national decision-making.

Speaking during Monday’s parliamentary debate on the bill, MP Ameen said that if the government intends to promote public involvement in governance, then a structured pathway for public petitions must be part of the legislation.

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“Regardless of how many individuals may support an issue, there is no avenue in this bill for public input,” Ameen said. “If we are talking about empowering people, the most fundamental element must be to enable them to vote and express their views on what they want.”Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal

Ameen also questioned the government’s push to change the presidential oath-taking date from November 17 to November 11. He said there is no need to spend large sums of public funds on the change, pointing out that the Constitution already defines the presidential term as five years, without specifying the exact inauguration date.

“There’s no real difference whether the president takes oath on the 11th or 17th,” said the opposition MP, downplaying the significance of the proposed shift.Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal

The Public Referendum Bill was submitted at Monday’s sitting by Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah on behalf of the government. MP Falah noted that while referendums have been discussed in the past, they were limited to motions and resolutions. This is the first time a dedicated bill has been proposed to formalise the process.

The bill outlines the procedures for conducting referendums under Article 262 of the Constitution, detailing responsibilities for applicants, the Elections Commission, and the government in facilitating a national vote. It comprises 39 articles and covers a wide scope of constitutional and policy matters.

Among the major changes proposed is to move the presidential inauguration date to November 11—Maldives’ Republic Day—as President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has advocated. The change stems from the precedent set in 2013, when legal delays extended the election and shifted the inauguration to November 17.

The bill also seeks to align presidential and parliamentary elections and to eliminate the need for a second round in presidential elections by introducing a new voting mechanism—part of a broader electoral reform initiative by President Muizzu.

According to the legislation, referendums would be required for any constitutional changes affecting fundamental rights, the age and term of parliament members, presidential election processes, term lengths, legislation ratification procedures, and national boundaries. The bill also grants the president the power to call referendums through a signed resolution and enables Parliament to forward issues for public vote if the president declines to ratify a bill.

Procedural guidelines in the bill stipulate that a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days must elapse between the proposal and the referendum vote. Eligible citizens aged 18 and over would vote via secret ballot, and results must be announced within 14 days.

However, opposition MPs raised strong concerns about the timing and intent behind the bill. Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accused the government of attempting to extend the President’s term under the guise of reform.

“This is not the time for such a bill,” Mauroof said. “People are in debt. Prices are sky-high, essential medicines are missing, and the value of the Rufiyaa is falling fast. We should be prioritising these issues.”Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir

Despite the criticism, ruling party MPs maintained that the bill is essential to fulfilling the government’s reform agenda and enhancing citizen engagement in governance. Many ruling coalition members spoke in support of the bill, and the debate is scheduled to continue in Wednesday’s sitting.