President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has proposed an amendment to the Constitution to hold the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections simultaneously. He made this proposal during a rally of the main ruling party, People’s National Congress (PNC).
Speaking at the event, President Muizzu emphasised that combining the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections would be the most cost-effective approach for the state. He noted that USD 11.6 million was spent on the two rounds of the 2023 Presidential Election and USD 7.8 million was spent on the last Parliamentary Election.
Highlighting the six-month gap between the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, the President explained that holding the two elections simultaneously could save around USD 7.8 million from the state budget. He suggested that these savings could be redirected towards societal development.
President Muizzu announced that the proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted to the Parliament later this year, following a referendum to gather public opinion. He reiterated that holding the two elections together would be ideal if the public supports the amendment.
The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated that conducting the country's major elections separately is costly. The commission noted that the expenses for the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Councils’ Elections have been increasing annually.