Solih says holding presidential and parliamentary polls together harms accountability

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Monday evening that holding the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day would deprive the public of an important opportunity to hold the government accountable.

A referendum will be held on Saturday to decide whether the two national elections should be conducted together in the future.

Speaking at an MDP rally in Kulhudhuffushi, Solih said the Constitution does not provide for the two elections to be held simultaneously. He noted that presidential and parliamentary elections have always been held separately, and that the MDP has never supported merging them.

Solih, who served in the special assembly that drafted the Constitution, said the idea of combining the two elections was raised during the drafting process but was rejected to ensure a period of accountability between the government and the people.

“If the two elections are held together, the opportunity for accountability between the government and the people will be completely lost. There would be no reason for the leader to return to the people within the same five years. That is the most concerning part,” Solih said.

ރައީސް އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދު ޞާލިޙް @ibusolih ކުޅުދުއްފުށި ތިޔަފަތަށް ޖަލްސާ ގައި ވާހަކަފުޅު ދެއްކެވުން

ލޯކަލް ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އ.ތ.މ ކޮމިޓީގެ އިންތިޚާބު 2026

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He added that constitutional amendments require deeper study and broader debate, and criticised what he described as ad‑hoc changes that have created confusion.

Solih urged the public to vote against holding the two elections on the same day.

The proposal has sparked wide debate. The government argues that combining the elections would reduce costs, and the MDA, Adhaalath Party and JP have expressed support. Some within the opposition MDP and former President Abdulla Yameen’s PNF have voiced opposition.

Former Home Minister Umar Naseer said merging elections would indeed reduce spending, but he does not support combining the two major national polls.