Ibrahim Falah, the Majority Leader of the People’s Majlis and Member of Parliament for the Inguraidhoo constituency, has stated that synchronizing the presidential and parliamentary elections could result in savings of approximately MVR 80 million for the state.
Falah made these remarks during the parliamentary debate on the proposed constitutional amendment to hold both elections concurrently.
He noted that the decision to align the elections involves shortening the current parliamentary term, which would reduce the tenure of the 20th Majlis members by six months. However, he emphasized that this is a beneficial step when considering the national interest and the economy. Falah asserted that even if it entails a personal loss for the members, they remain committed to decisions that serve the greater good of the country.
Highlighting statistical data, Falah pointed out that conducting a separate parliamentary election costs the state between MVR 60 million and MVR 80 million. By combining the two elections, these significant expenditures can be avoided.
Under the Constitution, any amendment that alters the term of the Majlis requires a public referendum before it can be ratified by the President. Therefore, Falah suggested that this is the most opportune time to process the bill, as the referendum could be held alongside the Local Council Elections scheduled for next April.
“In reality, this is the most suitable time to introduce this constitutional amendment to synchronize the two elections. The primary reason I consider the timing ideal is its alignment with the upcoming Council Elections. Otherwise, holding a separate referendum would incur additional costs for the state,” Falah explained.
Several members noted that many political leaders support shortening the parliamentary term to combine the elections. They further emphasized that since the final decision rests with the public through a referendum, there is little merit in opposing the bill at this stage.
According to the government-proposed amendment to the Constitution, the inaugural session of the Majlis term would be moved to December 1st. Consequently, the current parliamentary term would conclude on December 1, 2028, rather than in 2029 as originally scheduled.
