Lawyers Seek Supreme Court Order to Rescind Bill and Referendum on Merging Elections 

Lawyers Aik Ahmed Easa and Ali Hussain, a former MP, have filed a case at the Supreme Court of the Maldives seeking to rescind the planned public referendum on the proposed constitutional amendment to merge presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a press conference held today, Ali Hussain said the submission challenges the legal validity of the bill, arguing that procedural requirements under the Constitution were not followed.

He stated that there are specific obligations and timeframes governing the rectification of bills sent to the President, and that any such action must be completed within a prescribed period. According to Ali Hussain, the bill in question was sent to President Mohamed Muizzu on 11 February, but was not rectified within the required timeframe, which is 15 days. 

Citing constitutional provisions, he argued that amendments to the Constitution require approval through a referendum with a majority vote, and that failure to comply with procedural timelines renders the bill invalid.

“The rectification was done after the legally allowed period. In such a case, the bill becomes void,” Ali Hussain said, adding that a void bill cannot form the legal basis for holding a referendum.

He further contended that issues related to the duration of parliamentary terms are intertwined with the proposed amendment, noting that the bill maintains a five-year term for parliamentarians.

Based on these arguments, the lawyers have asked the court to overturn the rectification of the bill and halt the referendum process, stating that the legislation has effectively been “rescinded de facto.”

Meanwhile, the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has announced the question to be put to voters in the referendum on the proposed eighth amendment to the Constitution.

In a gazetted notice, the commission said the question was received under a presidential decree issued in accordance with the Constitution and the Public Referendum Act.

Voters will be asked whether they approve the ratification of the bill providing for the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously and outlining the method for calculating parliamentary terms.

The referendum is scheduled for 4 April, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and will be held alongside the 2026 Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections.

The proposed amendment states that parliamentary elections would be conducted concurrently with presidential elections, and that the term of parliament would remain five years, beginning on 1 December following the first sitting of a newly elected legislature. 

If the referendum results in favor of the bill, the current parliamentary term will be reduced to six months.