In a major move toward inclusive governance, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that the government is considering amending the Constitution to reserve a specific percentage of parliamentary seats for youth and women, as part of a broader reform package aimed at streamlining governance and enhancing democratic representation.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing ahead of the upcoming referendum on 4 April—which will determine whether presidential and parliamentary elections should be held simultaneously—the President revealed plans to address the growing size of Parliament and introduce structural electoral reforms based on the outcome of the referendum.
Among the key proposals is a plan to cap the number of lawmakers and introduce special allocations ensuring youth under the age of 30 and women are adequately represented in the Parliament.
“We intend to define a certain percentage of MPs as young people and similarly, a certain percentage will be women,” he emphasised, noting that while local councils currently include female representation, the same is not reflected in Parliament.
The reforms outlined by the President also include shifting the presidential term to begin on 11 November and adopting a preferential voting system to allow for a single-round presidential election, with feasibility studies currently underway.
President Muizzu confirmed that while constitutional amendments are required, these changes will not necessitate another referendum.
Additional reforms aim to strengthen the independence of key institutions, including the judiciary, through revisions to the composition of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), improved resourcing, and enhanced standards for judicial appointments.
According to the President, the government plans to introduce new legislation and amend existing laws to implement these transformative changes, designed to bring a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s political framework.