Referendum on Joint Elections is Constitutional, Defends AGO

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has said the 4 April referendum on holding parliamentary and presidential elections together is not unconstitutional, and that the government has acted in accordance with the law and Constitution.

In a press release, the AGO yesterday addressed what it described as misinformation being spread regarding the upcoming referendum, which will be held alongside the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.

The AGO stated that the referendum is a public vote to determine whether citizens support the President ratifying the 8th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, passed by the parliament on 10 February 2026. The proposed amendment seeks to hold parliamentary elections simultaneously with presidential elections and revise the method for calculating the term of the parliament.

ނޫސް ބަޔާން: 4 އެޕްރީލް 2026 ގައި ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ބޭއްވުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ޚިޔާލު ހޯދުމުގެ ޢާންމު ވޯޓާގުޅޭ

ލިންކް: https://t.co/akpmDItISZ pic.twitter.com/WPqeYGt9cV

— AG Office Maldives (@AGOmv) March 17, 2026

According to the AGO, the amendment would set the parliament term to begin on 1 December and require shortening the current parliamentary term to facilitate synchronised elections.

The office noted that under Article 262 of the Constitution, certain amendments require public approval before they can be ratified. It said the proposed changes fall under Article 262(b), as they involve amending Article 79(a), which governs the term of the People’s Majlis.

As a result, the President can only ratify the bill if a majority of voters in a public referendum approve it.

The AGO also highlighted that the process follows the Public Referendum Act (Law No. 15/2025), which requires a presidential decree outlining the referendum question, purpose, and voting period. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu issued the relevant decree on 16 February 2026.

“The question proposed to seek the public’s opinion is consistent with Article 262(b) of the Constitution and the Public Referendum Act,” the AGO said, adding that interpreting the matter otherwise would contradict legal and constitutional principles.

The office maintained that the government has acted in line with constitutional and legal requirements in proceeding with the referendum.