Maumoon opposed to synchronizing presidential and parliamentary elections

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is opposed to the move proposed by the incumbent administration to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

He disclosed his opposition to synchronizing the two major elections in a response he gave to a question he was asked in a WhatsApp group of executive committee members of the now-dissolved Maldives Reform Movement (MRM).

A close aide to Maumoon confirmed the authenticity of the screenshot of this conversation, that leaked over social media on Tuesday.

A member of the WhatsApp group asked on February 24 whether it to be a good thing to hold the two elections concurrently. Maumoon responded the next day with a simple “no.”

While other political leaders have been vocal in their opinion regarding synchronizing the elections, Maumoon has been largely silent.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp conversation, which went viral on social media on Tuesday night, marks the first time for his stance on the issue to become publicly known.

Also on Tuesday, Maumoon’s daughter, former gender minister Yumna Maumoon also publicly announced her opposition to synchronizing the two elections. She argues that such a move will limit the number of times that the people get a chance have a say in how the country is being run.

I do not believe that the Presidential elections and the Majlis elections should be held on the same day as it will limit the number of times that the people get a chance have a say in how their country is being run.

I believe that it will be best if Majlis Elections are held in… pic.twitter.com/DY4wALvK1d

— Yumna Maumoon ???????? ???????????? (@yumna_maumoon) April 1, 2026

Under the current system, voters go to polls twice within around six months every five years, electing the president in September and members of Parliament in April.

On February 10, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) used its supermajority in the Parliament to pass constitutional amendments proposed by the government to hold future presidential elections and parliamentary elections on the same day.

These constitutional amendments propose merging the two elections, and bringing forward the start of the parliamentary term from May to December 1 to get this done.

This change will shorten the five-year term of the current parliamentary assembly, sworn in on May 28, 2024, by around six months.

The first combined poll would take place in 2028.

A referendum on synchronizing the elections is being held on Saturday, on the same day as the local council elections.