MDA Backs Plan to Hold Parliamentary and Local Council Elections Together

The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) said yesterday that it supports holding both the parliamentary and local council elections on the same day, noting the move would improve the Maldives’ economy.

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has scheduled a referendum for 4 April to seek public approval before the government ratifies the eighth amendment to the Constitution. The referendum will be held on the same day as the local council elections and the vote for the Women’s Development Committees (WDCs).

“This is regarding the economic situation of the Maldives. The party believes that this is in the best interest of the country, given the Maldives’ economic state, and the peace of the people of the country,” MDA said in their press release, supporting the merge of all local elections, except for the Presidential election.

The party said the move could help reduce state expenditure and support efforts to manage public debt. It added that combining the elections, with the exception of the presidential election, would contribute to maintaining economic stability.

The statement also noted that the party’s president, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, has consistently advocated responsible policies aimed at improving the living standards of Maldivians. It said that, as a member of parliament and businessman, Siyam prioritises the country’s economic and social stability.

MDA welcomed the government’s decision to hold the elections on the same day, describing it as an important step towards economic stability and progress.

The party also called on state institutions to work together to reduce expenditure and strengthen the national economy. It reaffirmed its commitment to policies that support economic stability and the welfare of the Maldivian people.