Wednesday 18 Mar 2026
Adhaalath Party (AP)'s advisory committee convenes for a meeting on March 17, 2026. (Photo/AP)
The Adhaalath Party (AP) has announced its formal support for the proposal to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections. This move aligns with the People's National Congress (PNC) administration's initiative, which aims to consolidate voting schedules to reduce costs—estimated at MVR 60 million—and improve administrative efficiency. Following a unanimous decision by its advisory committee, the AP advocates for a "yes" vote in the upcoming April 4 referendum. However, the proposal remains highly contentious, with the main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), raising concerns regarding democratic accountability and the potential for excessive consolidation of power.
Adhaalath Party (AP) has announced the decision to back the proposal by the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration to synchronize the presidential elections and the parliamentary elections.
In February, the PNC used its supermajority in the Parliament to pass constitutional amendments to hold future presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently. However, such major constitutional amendments require a public referendum before it can be formalized, which President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decreed should be held on April 4 – on the same day as the local council elections.
In a brief statement released via X on early Wednesday, AP announced it supports voting “yes” to the proposal in the upcoming referendum.
According to the AP, the party’s advisory committee made the decision by unanimous consensus following extensive discussions held during the first committee meeting chaired by the party’s new president, Sheikh Mohamed Shifan.
The party added they made the decision after reflecting on “the best interests of the people and country”.
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.
But the 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.
AP joins Jumhoory Party (JP) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) in backing the PNC administration, which argues that synchronizing the two major elections will save around MVR 60 million in expenses, and will be more convenient for the people.
However, the move is vehemently opposed to by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which accuses President Muizzu of rushing the referendum in order to concentrate political power to himself.
The party has warned that synchronizing the presidential and parliamentary elections would remove the public’s ability to hold the government accountable during its five-year term.
The upcoming referendum has sparked three court petitions seeking to block it; one filed by the MDP with the Civil Court, and two filed with the Supreme Court seeking to declare the upcoming referendum unconstitutional and nullify the constitutional amendments.
