Supreme Court Accepts Petition Seeking to Halt Referendum on Elections

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has accepted a constitutional petition seeking to stop the upcoming referendum scheduled for 4 April, which is intended to determine whether presidential and parliamentary elections should be held on the same day.

The case, filed by lawyers Ibrahim Shiyam and Aik Ahmed Easa, argues that the question set out in the Presidential Decree and a public notice issued by the Elections Commission of Maldives exceeds constitutional limits. The petition contends that the wording of the referendum question does not comply with Article 262(g) of the Constitution and could mislead voters by obscuring the nature of the proposed constitutional change.

A separate constitutional case has also been submitted by former MP Ali Hussain. The Court has yet to decide whether to accept that petition. It challenges the validity of the Eighth Amendment Bill and argues that holding a referendum in its current form would breach Article 264 of the Constitution.

The referendum is due to take place alongside local council elections on 4 April, raising further questions about the feasibility and timing of the dual electoral process.

The main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party, has previously filed related cases in the High Court seeking to suspend the referendum. Those applications remain pending, with no final ruling issued on whether they will proceed.