President Muizzu wants to combine the two elections because his own personal expenses are increasing, says Fayyaz
Fayyaz stated that the government's move to amend the constitution to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections is not driven by a sincere intent to reduce costs, but is rather a sudden maneuver aimed at establishing an authoritarian regime. Emphasizing that such significant constitutional changes require extensive public consultation, he urged the citizens to reject these amendments in order to safeguard the country's democratic system.
From the meeting of the MDP National Congress | MDP | MDP
Former Economic Minister and former Chairperson of the MDP, Fayyaz Ismail, has alleged that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu secures votes through bribery. He further claimed that the current administration's desire to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously is driven by a need to reduce the President's personal campaign expenditures.
Speaking at the MDP National Congress meeting held on Thursday night, Fayyaz stated that while the "Green Constitution" introduced to the Maldives has brought positive changes to the nation, the PPM/PNC coalition amends the Constitution every time they come to power. Consequently, he noted that there are specific areas within the Constitution that require revision and improvement.
Fayyaz stated that efforts must be made to maintain a stable democracy, emphasizing the need for a clear separation of powers and the establishment of mechanisms that allow for mutual oversight and accountability between the three branches of government.
Referring to ongoing efforts to synchronize presidential and parliamentary elections, Fayyaz acknowledged that such a move would reduce costs. However, he contended that the government's true intention is not fiscal responsibility, expressing concerns over the current approach to implementing this change. He further emphasized that the matter requires thorough deliberation within the People’s Majlis and stressed the importance of raising public awareness on the issue.
Fayyaz stated that while the current administration speaks of austerity measures, they are simultaneously spending 50 million Rufiyaa on decorative lighting for every Eid and millions more on drone shows.
Furthermore, Fayyaz stated that he has not encountered any citizen concerned about the high costs associated with holding the elections separately. He noted, however, that under the current circumstances, President Muizzu only secures votes through bribery, leading to significantly high personal expenditures for him.
In my view, the high costs are primarily a concern for President Muizzu. He secures votes by bribing the Maldivian people and purchasing their support. Consequently, if two separate elections are held, he is forced to spend money on each one individually. By consolidating the elections, the amount the President has to spend is reduced, but the benefits the citizens receive are lost. Therefore, I would argue that to uphold our democratic system in the Maldives, we should not proceed in the manner currently being proposed. Changes can certainly be made, but if we are to find a genuine solution to the underlying issue through broader consultation, there are many other alternatives available. As it stands, this approach is more likely to exacerbate the problem rather than provide a meaningful resolution.Former Economic Minister and former Chairperson of the MDP, Fayyaz Ismail.
Fayyaz expressed concern over the government's sudden amendments to the Constitution, characterizing these actions as an attempt to establish and maintain authoritarian rule in the Maldives. Furthermore, Fayyaz called upon all citizens to reject the referendum proposed by the government.
