Holding elections simultaneously will result in complete loss of opportunity to hold government accountable: Solih
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has warned that holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously could allow the government to exert undue influence to seize full control of the legislature, thereby undermining democratic accountability. Highlighting historical trends where the ruling party typically secures a majority, Solih noted that such a move could consolidate power excessively within the executive branch. Consequently, he urged the public to carefully consider these implications before voting in the upcoming referendum on the matter.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih delivers his remarks during a rally held at the MDP headquarters. | MDP | MDP
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has warned that holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously would allow a sitting head of state to exert undue influence through executive power, state resources, and employment opportunities to seize full control of the legislature. He noted that such a move would ultimately eliminate any remaining opportunity to hold the government accountable.
He made these remarks while addressing a gathering held at the MDP headquarters.
Solih stated that it is essential to analyze the outcomes of elections held since the implementation of the new Constitution in 2008. In this regard, Solih noted that looking at election trends since 2013, former President Yameen, who won the 2013 presidential election, secured 69 percent of the seats in the subsequent 2014 parliamentary elections while in office. This accounted for 59 out of the 85 seats available at the time.
Furthermore, Solih recalled that following the MDP's victory in the 2018 presidential election, the party secured 75 percent of the seats, or 65 constituencies, in the parliamentary elections held five months later in 2019. He also noted that in the parliamentary elections following the most recent presidential election in 2023, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu succeeded in winning 87 percent of the seats in Parliament.
Solih stated that these figures demonstrate the extent to which executive influence and power have permeated the parliamentary elections. He noted that the degree of control exerted by a sitting president over the Parliament has escalated from 69 percent to 75 percent, and has now reached 87 percent.
Urging a reconsideration of holding the two elections simultaneously, Solih stated that if the elections are conducted together, an incumbent could leverage executive power, state resources, and employment opportunities to secure the entire Parliament. He further noted that such a scenario would result in a legislature comprised solely of government loyalists, thereby eliminating any opportunity to hold the government accountable.
Reflecting on the current political landscape, Solih questioned the feasibility of holding the government accountable when it commands an 87 percent majority in Parliament. He remarked that the Parliament appears to do little beyond executing the government's directives. Consequently, Solih urged the public to deliberate deeply on these issues in the upcoming referendum.
