MDP Criticises Government Plan to Hold Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Together

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has criticised the current administration’s plan to hold parliamentary and presidential elections simultaneously, calling it an attempt by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to consolidate political power.

In a statement released today, MDP said it was deeply concerned by what it described as President Muizzu’s efforts to reshape the constitutional order to concentrate authority. The President has proposed amending the Constitution to synchronise presidential and parliamentary elections, a change the party says would limit public accountability during the government’s five-year term.

The party also criticised the process by which the 8th Amendment to the Constitution Bill was passed.

“The Government used its dominant majority in Parliament to rush through a decision to hold a referendum on this amendment. The manner was telling: the amendment received just five minutes of scrutiny in the parliamentary committee and only two hours of debate on the parliament floor, with no substantive discussion whatsoever,” MDP said.

The referendum on the amendment is scheduled for 4 April, alongside the local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

MDP said the government’s justification for the constitutional change has shifted between claims of minimal cost savings and assertions that synchronised elections would promote social harmony, as “elections cause division within the public.” The party added that the rationale does not withstand scrutiny and criticised the lack of national consultation.

“Rather than providing inclusive public deliberation, the administration has merged this fundamental question with local council elections on 4 April, giving voters no structured information or serious opportunity to understand what is being asked of them,” MDP said. 

The party also noted that the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), in its discussions with MDP, has stated it has been unable to create the legally required public awareness, while Public Service Media has consistently failed to give the ‘No’ campaign equal platform alongside government-backed messaging, MDP alleges. 

MDP warned that these actions fit a broader pattern of power centralisation, with state institutions being used against opposition members and repeated disregard for the rule of law. The party said the proposed amendment is not a technocratic measure but a step to entrench executive dominance and weaken constitutional checks and balances.

The party called on the international community to scrutinise the developments and signal to the Muizzu administration that constitutional change cannot be imposed without genuine public deliberation and information.