President accuses opposition of opposing merger after previously backing it

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday accused the opposition of refusing to support the proposal to merge the presidential and parliamentary elections because they are “used to setting the election” to their advantage.

A nationwide referendum on whether the two elections should be held on the same day is scheduled for April 4, alongside the local council elections. The date was set through a presidential resolution issued last week.

Senior leaders of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom have publicly opposed the move.

Speaking at a PNC Tharaavees dinner on Thursday evening, President Muizzu said he had carefully considered the opposition’s objections. He noted that some opposition figures had previously supported holding the two elections together, referring specifically to former President Mohamed Nasheed.

The President said that historically, political actors have engaged in “perimeter marking” ahead of elections, travelling to islands, laying foundations and marking territories, before disappearing until the next campaign cycle. He argued that those accustomed to this practice now oppose the merger despite having advocated for it earlier.

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޑރ. މުހައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒު ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގަންނަވާ ކޮންގްރެސް ޕާޓީގެ ތަރާވީހުގެ ތެރެއިން.#LCE2026 #VotePNC #Vote4MoosaJaleel#MoosaJaleel4Mayor #DhiveheengeRaajje #CongressPartyMV pic.twitter.com/Un16Vsz4Yy

— PNC Secretariat (@pnc_secretariat) February 26, 2026

“We are not trying to make two elections into one,” President Muizzu said, adding that the government’s intention is to hold the votes on the same day because the two elections fall within a one‑month period.

He said combining the elections would increase voter participation. Official figures show that both rounds of the 2023 presidential election recorded the lowest turnout since the country’s transition to democracy, despite a slight increase between the first and second rounds

The MDP filed a petition in court on Wednesday seeking an interim order to halt the referendum. The party argues that the President’s resolution does not provide the campaign period required under Article 26 of the Elections Act, limiting its ability to adequately inform voters and shape public opinion.

Meanwhile, the Elections Commission is preparing to conduct the vote.