Yameen: Starting and ending presidential, parliamentary terms together is a major threat

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has warned that aligning the presidential and parliamentary terms, by holding both elections on the same day, poses a serious threat to the country’s governance system.

A referendum will be held on April 4, alongside the local council elections, to decide whether the Maldives should conduct presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day. The opposition, including the MDP and Yameen’s People’s National Front (PNF), has criticised the government for rushing the vote without giving the public or political parties adequate time to consider the implications.

Speaking at the PNF’s “Chagoas Rally” on Wednesday, Yameen said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu must explain the real motive behind combining the two elections. He argued that cost‑cutting is not a valid justification, noting that many other reforms would need to come first if the government were genuinely trying to reduce expenditure.

Yameen said the most important institution in the country is the Parliament, as it holds the President accountable. Under the current constitution, he said, the President cannot act independently without parliamentary approval.

He cited the example of a state of emergency, noting that even if the President declares one, it only becomes valid if Parliament endorses it. Parliament also has the power to revoke such decisions. Therefore, he said, the President does not hold “absolute” authority.

According to Yameen, the people, through their elected MPs, are the true holders of power. For that reason, he said, it is essential for the country to always have a functioning Parliament, even if the presidency becomes vacant.

Yameen argued that the April 4 referendum would create a situation where both the presidential and parliamentary terms expire simultaneously, leaving no institution capable of holding the President accountable. He said this would remove the incentive for accountability and create a dangerous vacuum in the state.

He described the proposal as a “great threat to the country,” warning that combining the two elections would lead to legal complications and weaken the entire governance system.

Both the PNF and the MDP are seeking to stop the referendum. The PNF has filed a civil suit, while MDP lawyers have submitted two constitutional cases to the Supreme Court. One case was dismissed, and the other has already been heard and decided.