The Adhaalath Party has decided to support the proposal to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

While the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) advocates for the synchronization of the two elections in the upcoming public referendum on the 4th of next month, opposition parties generally remain opposed to the move.

In a post on X today, the Adhaalath Party stated that its Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) has passed a majority resolution to vote "in favor" of ratifying the bill passed by the People's Majlis. This bill concerns holding the two elections concurrently and establishing the rules for determining the duration of the parliamentary term.

The party noted that the decision to support the proposal was made after considering the best interests of the nation and its citizens.

In addition to Adhaalath, the leader of the Jumhooree Party and Member of Parliament for Maamigili constituency, Qasim Ibrahim, has also endorsed the change, stating that the public would be the primary beneficiaries of holding the elections on a single day.

In a social media post earlier this month, Qasim argued that synchronizing the elections is a necessary step for the country.

"Looking at the political landscape since the 2008 presidential election, I believe that holding the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day is an essential requirement," Qasim stated.

He further noted that under the current system, every government, upon coming to power, struggles to secure a majority in the Majlis. He pointed out that in the 2019 and 2023 elections, the public granted a three-quarters majority to the ruling party.

"As things stand, a person elected as President for a five-year term is forced to spend the first six months of their administration focused on securing a parliamentary majority. Furthermore, past parliaments have used their majorities to obstruct newly formed governments, jeopardize initial budgets, and even attempt no-confidence motions against the President," Qasim remarked.

He emphasized that this reform is long overdue for the sake of the country's political stability. Since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu will only ratify the amendment if the public approves, Qasim urged Maldivians to vote "in favor" during the referendum being held alongside the local council elections.

"Holding the parliamentary election on the same day as the presidential election is significantly more beneficial for the citizens. It will save over MVR 120 million in tax money, allowing those funds to be redirected to other public needs. Furthermore, it will undoubtedly reduce the political unrest and corruption allegations often linked to the intense efforts by political parties to gain a Majlis majority," Qasim added.

The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), led by Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, has also expressed support for combining the two elections.

However, a legal challenge has been filed at the Supreme Court today to halt the referendum. The case was submitted by former Kendhoo MP and lawyer Ali Hussain, along with lawyers Aik Ahmed Easa and Ibrahim Shiyam.

The petition submitted to the Supreme Court seeks a ruling to invalidate the constitutional amendment passed by the People's Majlis last month regarding the synchronization of the two elections.