Former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaludeen has expressed support for holding the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day.

In a post on X, Akram said the move would bring several benefits, including allowing voters to choose a parliament more freely and increasing voter participation. He also noted that it would help the government stay focused on its main priorities instead of prolonged election activities.

The Elections Commission has scheduled a referendum on the proposal for next month. While the government is backing the plan, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has launched a campaign against it.

Akram added that holding both elections together would significantly reduce state spending and overall campaign costs.

Meanwhile, MDP has filed a case at the Supreme Court of the Maldives seeking to block the referendum, with hearings already underway.