As the government moves forward with a constitutional amendment to merge presidential and parliamentary elections, former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has proposed an alternative model: dividing parliamentary elections into two rounds.
Parliament, currently in recess, is scheduled to reconvene on Monday. The agenda includes three government‑backed bills, one of which proposes constitutional changes to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously.
The amendment was submitted by ruling PNC parliamentary group leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah. It also proposes shifting the start date of the new Parliament to December 1. If passed, the 21st Parliament would begin on December 1, 2028, following that year’s presidential election, and the current 20th Parliament would be dissolved on the same day.
In a post responding to the bill, Fayyaz said combining the two elections may have both pros and cons, but warned that the government’s justification of cost‑cutting could undermine public decision‑making.
ދެ އިންތިހާބު އެއްކޮށްލުމުން ލިބޭ ފައިދާ އާއި ގެއްލުންތަކެއް އެބަހުރި. އެހެން ނަމަވެސް ހަރަދު ކުޑަކުރުމުގެ ނަމުގައި ސަރުކާރުން ކުރަން މި އުޅޭ ކަމަކީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އަތުގައި އޮތް ވޯޓުން ގައުމުގެ ކަންކަން ނިންމުމުގެ ބާރު ފޭރިގަތުން. ހަރަދު ކުޑަކުރަން މި މަތިބަރު ސަރުކާރުން އުޅޭ… https://t.co/AuDPVGHUeT
— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) January 4, 2026
“No one has seen this government trying to cut spending. It is worthy that Maldivians think about what they are trying to do in vote‑related matters,” he wrote.
Fayyaz argued that parliamentary elections play a critical role in holding the government accountable and electing representatives to the highest legislative body. If the government genuinely wanted to strengthen democratic oversight, he said, parliamentary elections should be held in two parts.
He proposed electing half of the Parliament alongside the presidential election, and the other half mid‑term. This, he said, would give voters a chance to assess the government’s performance and adjust representation accordingly.
Fayyaz also questioned the government’s claim that merging elections would reduce costs. If spending cuts were the true goal, he said, the presidential and council elections could be merged instead.
“These are votes at the national and island levels that give government to the people,” he said, adding that constitutional amendments should not be rushed during parliamentary recess.
“Such issues that will directly affect the power of the people should be given the opportunity to debate widely. I hope President Muizzu will have the courage to bring more options to the people,” Fayyaz wrote.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu first announced the proposal to merge presidential and parliamentary elections on July 7, 2024, citing cost savings. He said the move would save at least MVR 120 million, which could be redirected to support vulnerable families.