President says he gets the message, doesn’t plan to make any more changes to Constitution

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said on Monday that people delivered a huge message with the recent referendum on a constitutional amendment to synchronize two major elections, and he does not plan to make any further changes to the Constitution.

President Muizzu’s administration had advocated to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections. But only 31 percent voted in favor of making the constitutional amendment required to make the change, with an overwhelming 69 percent voting against it in the referendum.

President Muizzu told reporters on Monday that he therefore does not believe constitutional changes are something the people support.

“The people delivered a huge message with the referendum; that amending the Constitution isn’t something that they accept much or are in much favor of,” said President Muizzu during his weekly press briefing.

“Therefore, I do not plan to make any further change that would require amending the Constitution.”

But he said that his administration will continue to work on previously announced changes, including capping the number of seats at the Parliament, and introducing quotas for women and youth in the legislative assembly.

He also provided assurance that he will reform the composition of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as promised.

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) had used its supermajority in the Parliament to make multiple major amendments to the Constitution, including writing in anti-defection clauses so parliamentarians lose their seats for floor-crossing, and abolishing atoll councils.