The Attorney General has stated that the government has followed the Constitution and relevant laws in all matters related to the Constitutional Amendment Bill to conduct two elections on the same day and the upcoming referendum.
The statement was issued to address misleading information circulating about the referendum process scheduled for 4 April.
The purpose of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution is to hold both the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day, and to shorten the current Parliament’s term by changing how its duration is calculated such that it starts from 1 December to enable holding both elections simultaneously.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the amendments contained in the bill fall within the category of constitutional changes which, under Article 262(b) of the Constitution, must be submitted to a public referendum prior to ratification by the President. If the amendment does not receive a majority approval in the public referendum, it will not be ratified.
In the upcoming referendum, voters will be asked “Do you approve the ratification of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the Presidential and People’s Majlis elections to be held concurrently and for a change to the term of the People’s Majlis?”
The Attorney General’s Office said the referendum question and process comply with legal requirements, and maintained that all actions so far regarding the amendment and referendum have been constitutionally sound and lawful.