Constitutional amendments will be introduced to elect a president in a single round following a referendum, as this is the only path for Muizzu to secure victory in 2028: Ahmed Haleem

Former Member of Parliament for the Bilehdhoo constituency, Ahmed Haleem has stated that the government intends to amend the law to elect a president in a single round of voting following a referendum. He claimed this move stems from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s own realization that such a change is his only path to securing victory in the 2028 presidential election.

Speaking during RaajjeTV’s "Noonekey" campaign, Haleem stated that while the government may have introduced this bill under a deceptive guise, its true underlying purpose remains hidden. He emphasized that the Constitution explicitly mandates that the President of the Maldives must be elected with the support of 51 percent of the country's voting population.

Haleem stated that the current discussions regarding holding two elections simultaneously are aimed at eliminating the second round of voting. He noted that while the Constitution has not yet been amended to reflect this, the government’s current trajectory is clearly heading in that direction.

Our Constitution explicitly states that the President of the Maldives must be elected with the support of 51 percent of the voting population. Today, there is talk of combining the two elections; however, the Constitution has not yet been amended regarding the second round of voting. This bill does not change that either. A second round must still be held if no candidate secures 51 percent. Consider this: the Parliamentary Election would be concluded during the first round. When a second round of the presidential election follows, the costs will not be reduced as claimed. Furthermore, the Constitution mandates that a second round must be held within a specific timeframe—either fifteen or twenty days. By the time that second round takes place, the Parliamentary Election will have already ended. Therefore, one must question whether the intended system of checks and balances can truly function as proposed.

Ahmed Haleem, the former Member of Parliament for the Bilehdhoo constituency.

Haleem stated that President Muizzu has indicated that following the approval of the referendum, numerous changes must be implemented. He clarified that these changes include abolishing the requirement for a candidate to secure 51 percent of the vote to assume the presidency. Instead, the objective is to establish a system where the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the first round is declared the winner of the election.

The result would be a situation where, out of every 100 voters, 70 would have a president they did not support, while only 30 would have the leader of their choice. Haleem stated that this means the Maldives would begin to see presidents who are acceptable to only a small minority, despite the disapproval of the vast majority.

The Maldives is about to enter an era where a president can hold office with the support of only a very small minority. Historically, every election we have witnessed has required a second round of voting, with the sole exception of the direct contest between President Solih and President Yameen. Under the proposed changes, the winner would simply be whoever receives the most votes. This indicates that President Muizzu has already accepted in his heart that 70 out of every 100 people will not support him in 2028. This is the reality of the current situation. The President knows he will never again secure a true majority in this country. Having accepted this fact internally, he is now moving to manipulate the laws to his advantage.

Ahmed Haleem, the former Member of Parliament for the Bilehdhoo constituency.

Haleem stated that this is a highly dangerous development, noting that if President Muizzu desires, he could potentially extend his term. He echoed the concerns of legal experts, asserting that these changes pave the way for the presidential term to be extended to twenty years.

Haleem stated that no commissioner should be subservient to the government's demands. He noted that even in the current referendum process, the Elections Commission is disseminating information in a manner that suggests the outcome is already a foregone conclusion.