President Muizzu is acting like a dictator, we must say no to the referendum: Saneef
Suneeph stated that President Muizzu is governing with dictatorial tendencies, steering the nation toward a long-term autocratic rule. He noted that the President is systematically dismantling the legal framework and undermining the country’s entire constitutional system. Emphasizing that power currently remains with the people, Suneeph urged citizens to exercise their authority and reject the proposed referendum.
Former Member of Parliament for the Thinadhoo South constituency, Abdulla Saneef, speaking on the "Noonekey" program. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
Former Member of Parliament for the South Thinadhoo constituency, Abdulla Saneef, has stated that the public must reject the upcoming referendum, alleging that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is governing with the characteristics of a dictator.
Speaking on the "Noonekey" program aired Thursday night, Saneef stated that the public must reject the referendum proposed to be held alongside the local council elections, which seeks to consolidate the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Highlighting numerous reasons to reject the referendum, Saneef stated that the government's claims regarding political instability during elections are merely excuses. He characterized these efforts as an attempt by the administration to strip away the power held by the people. Furthermore, he warned that if the government succeeds in the referendum, it could lead to the dissolution of the People’s Majlis, asserting that this is a critical concern the public must question.
Furthermore, Saneef stated that President Muizzu is acting in the manner of a dictator and is steering the country toward a long-term autocratic rule.
He stated that the legal pillars of the country are being dismantled one by one, effectively destroying the Maldives' constitutional framework. He further emphasized that the power currently lies with the people, urging them to exercise that authority by voting "no" in the referendum.
The primary issue regarding the current legislative proposal concerns the synchronization of two elections and the calculation of the parliamentary term. In reality, merging two elections does not inherently require a public referendum. However, the proposal effectively leads to the dissolution of the People’s Majlis. Whether it is by six months or a year, cutting short the term of members who have been elected and sworn in constitutes a dissolution of parliament, which is precisely why a referendum is legally required. The law explicitly stipulates the specific dates on which parliamentary elections must be held and when members must be sworn in. This is not merely a matter of consolidating two elections. Rather, it is an attempt to consolidate powers that are meant to remain separate under the principle of the separation of powers.Abdulla Saneef, the former Member of Parliament for the South Thinadhoo constituency.
Furthermore, Saneef criticized the People's Majlis, where the government currently holds a supermajority.
He stated that the members currently lack independence and legal standing. Saneef further noted that these factors raise serious questions regarding the legitimacy of their efforts to amend the Constitution.
