Former Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Shihab, has stated that holding the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day is the most ideal approach. He emphasized that even with such a change, the ultimate power would remain with the citizens, just as it is now. Mr. Shihab made these remarks during “Haylun,” a program broadcast by PSM regarding the upcoming referendum scheduled for next month. Drawing from his extensive experience as the Speaker of the Majlis and his tenure in various senior government positions, he expressed his belief that synchronizing the presidential and parliamentary elections would be the most beneficial path for the Maldives.
Reflecting on his 25-year career in the Majlis since 1985, Shihab noted that while the specific dates of elections were not previously a major point of debate, the underlying philosophy of the Majlis was always to conduct elections as efficiently as possible. He pointed out that following the first presidential election under the current constitution, the term of the then-sitting Majlis was shortened specifically to facilitate a fresh parliamentary election. Shihab reiterated that even if both elections were held concurrently, the decision-making power would always rest with the people. He observed that recent electoral trends show voters tend to grant a “super-majority” to the party of the incumbent President. However, he suggested that by holding both elections on the same day, citizens might focus more on electing capable individuals rather than simply granting the President a legislative majority.
“If the presidential and parliamentary elections are held simultaneously, I believe the outcome would be different, and in a positive way. Candidates for the People’s Majlis would compete in a free and fair environment without knowing who the President-elect will be. Under the current system, the public already knows which party and individual holds the presidency. Consequently, when deciding on parliamentary representatives, there is a stronger inclination among the people to grant a large majority to the President’s party,” Mohamed Shihab stated.
Furthermore, Shihab noted that frequent elections could lead to voter fatigue and a loss of public interest. He argued that holding elections on a single day would likely increase voter turnout. From a financial perspective, he also highlighted that synchronizing the elections would be significantly more cost-effective and beneficial for the national treasury.
