Maldivian Voters Reject Government Proposal to Combine Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Maldivian voters have rejected a government proposal to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day, a move intended to cut costs. According to the official results of the referendum held on Saturday, 68.77 percent of voters cast their ballots against the proposal, clearly signaling a rejection of the government's plan.

According to the Election Commission, nearly two-thirds of the country's approximately 294,000 eligible voters participated in the referendum. The local council elections held on the same day also delivered a disappointing message for the ruling party. President Mohamed Muizzu's People's National Congress failed to achieve expected success, while the main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party, secured victories in the capital, Male, and the major region of Addu.

President Muizzu acknowledged the election results respectfully via social media platform X and congratulated the winners. He had proposed holding both national elections simultaneously as a cost-saving measure while the country navigates economic challenges, claiming it would save approximately 8 million US dollars.

The proposal aimed to shorten the current parliamentary term by about five months to align with the presidential election scheduled for September 2028. However, with the voters' rejection, the plan will not be implemented.

Previously, the government had rejected an International Monetary Fund bailout in 2024, opting instead for a policy of internal spending cuts, which included a decision to halve the president's salary. The Maldives, with a population of approximately 382,000, has maintained that its economic difficulties are temporary and has insisted on not seeking external assistance.