MALE, April 5: The Maldives voted to reject a government plan to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day to save costs, official results of a referendum showed on Sunday.
An overwhelming 68.77 percent voted against the proposal at Saturday's plebicite, in which two thirds of the 294,000-strong electorate participated, according to the Elections Commission of the Maldives.
A local council election held alongside the referendum also saw a humiliating defeat for President Mohamed Muizzu's People's National Congress.
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party swept key councils in the capital Male and in the archipelago's second-largest constituency, Addu, according to the commission.
Maldives Supreme court orders release of key political prisone...
"I respectfully accept the results of Saturday's elections," Muizzu said on X, while congratulating the winners of the local polls.
The referendum was proposed by Muizzu as a cost-cutting measure as the country emerged from a financial crisis. He argued that holding both national elections together would save about $8 million.
The proposal was to shorten the current legislature's term by about five months and align it with the presidential election, which is due in September 2028.
The government rejected an International Monetary Fund bailout in 2024 and instead announced sweeping spending cuts, including halving Muizzu's salary.
Home to around 382,000 people, the Maldives insists its financial strains are temporary and says it has no plans to seek external assistance.
---
