To defend the right to hold a sitting government accountable, we must reject the proposal to combine the two elections: Meekail

Member of Parliament for South Galolhu, Meekail Ahmed Naseem, has urged the public to vote "no" against the proposal to synchronize two elections in the upcoming referendum scheduled for April 4. He emphasized that this is essential to safeguard the constitutional right of Maldivian citizens to hold a sitting government accountable.

Meekail made these remarks while speaking on Raajje TV’s "Noonekey" campaign program on Wednesday night.

Speaking during the program, Meekail stated that while the powers of the Maldivian state are derived from the people, the only instrument through which that power can be exercised is the ballot paper. He further alleged that the government's move to hold a referendum on consolidating presidential and parliamentary elections is an attempt to reduce the frequency with which citizens can vote. He characterized this as an effort to strip the public of their right to hold a sitting government accountable.

He emphasized that voting "no" in the upcoming polls on April 4 is essential to safeguard public empowerment and ensure that the government's accountability remains uncompromised.

The powers of the Maldivian state originate from the people, and that power is exercised through the ballot paper. This election is being conducted in a manner that restricts access to the ballot, effectively stripping us of our right to hold the sitting government accountable. Therefore, we must not relinquish the power we hold. In this election, we must vote "no" to defend our right to hold the administration accountable.

Meekail Ahmed Naseem, Member of Parliament for the South Galolhu constituency.

Meekail strongly criticized arguments from government supporters claiming that fewer elections would positively impact national stability. He remarked that, by this logic, such individuals might even suggest that extending a presidential term to 30 years without any elections would result in even greater stability. Meekail characterized these views as dangerous ideologies stemming from an archaic culture of authoritarianism.

Opposition groups allege that the government is seeking these changes to diminish public oversight, strengthen political influence, and establish a long-term authoritarian regime in the Maldives. As political tensions escalate over the issue, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has launched a vigorous campaign against the vote.