President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the government has decided to hold a referendum among the people of all the islands in Addu Atoll regarding the establishment of separate councils. Speaking on the “With the People” podcast, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that they want to hold a referendum among the people of Addu because some islands in Addu had requested this during the presidential election period. Therefore, he had promised to make a decision on this matter.
Regarding the referendum, the President said that this vote in Addu would be a historic one. With the Public Referendum Bill that was ratified yesterday, this will be the first vote held under the law. The President said that since Addu is being run as a city under one council, there are differences of opinion among the people of different islands in the city on this matter. With the city comprising many islands, the President noted that complaints are being received about the differences in how services are provided equally to different islands.
The President said that to decide what the people want regarding this matter, they have decided to hold a referendum in all the islands of Addu. He also said that a decision needs to be made on this before the upcoming Local Council Elections next year. “We need to hold a vote in October and get a result. The government needs to make a decision and submit it to the Election Commission for the Local Council Elections to proceed. This vote will be a historic one,” said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The President said that the people of Addu will decide how to decentralize Addu, and that such a big decision will not be made without asking for the people’s opinion. The President detailed the changes that would come to Addu’s councils as a result of the referendum.
“For example, we will hold a vote among the people of Hulhudhoo. The question in the vote will ask whether it should be Addu Hulhudhoo Council or remain as part of Addu City Council. The same for Meedhoo, Hithadhoo, and so on. We will hold this vote in all the islands of Addu, on how they want their council to be,” the President said.d. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the Public Referendum Bill yesterday.
The law, which outlines how public opinion polls can be conducted, states that public referendums can be held on important matters related to the people, national important issues, and to amend certain articles of the Constitution.
The Public Referendum Bill states that the People’s Majlis can decide to hold a public referendum to gauge public opinion on important matters related to the people. It also states that the President can decide to hold a public referendum to gauge public opinion on nationally important issues.
