Khaleel: Local council and WDC elections already held together without any issues

Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel stated on Tuesday night that, while opposition figures are objecting to the proposal to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day through a referendum, the Maldives has long conducted Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections simultaneously without any issues.

Minister Khaleel made the remarks during a ceremony organized by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) to inaugurate its Central Hulhumalé campaign centre.

Addressing the ongoing debate on consolidating major elections, Khaleel questioned whether those opposing the proposal were unaware that Local Council and WDC elections have been held concurrently by law since the establishment of the local council system.

“The Local Council election and the WDC election are two distinct polls. Voters are provided with two separate ballot papers. Therefore, these individuals must realize that holding two elections on the same day has never caused an issue in this country,” the Minister said.

He further noted that the government and the Elections Commission are currently working to gather public opinion on whether additional major elections should also be conducted on a single day. Khaleel emphasized that discussions on consolidating elections should first take into account the sincerity of the government and members of the parliament. He pointed out that, although it is constitutionally possible for the current parliament to amend the law and merge the two major elections without holding a referendum, the government has instead opted to consult the public directly.

The Minister asserted that the decision to hold a public referendum reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and its intention to respect the decision of the people.

The government has scheduled a national referendum for April 4 to determine whether the country’s two main elections should be held together. While the opposition has launched campaigns calling for a “no” vote, the government maintains that merging the elections would significantly reduce state expenditure.