President Mohamed Muizzu has proposed holding presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day, describing the move as a democratic reform designed to strengthen public participation and improve governance.
Addressing supporters at an event organized by the ruling People's National Congress, the President said aligning the two national votes would encourage greater civic engagement while also easing administrative and financial planning.
He pointed to voter statistics from the country’s multi-party era, noting that presidential elections have consistently recorded higher turnout—averaging above 86 percent—compared to parliamentary elections, which have averaged around 76 percent. Combining the two, he argued, would motivate more citizens to vote for both the head of state and their parliamentary representatives.
According to the President, the current system—where parliamentary elections take place six months after the presidential poll—creates practical challenges. One key concern is the national budget process. Under existing law, the budget must be submitted before the end of September, often before a newly elected administration can fully align fiscal policy with its manifesto commitments.
He said that if the public approves the proposed change, amendments would be introduced to the Public Finance Act to allow a newly elected parliament, taking office on 1 December, to play a direct role in shaping and approving the state budget in line with the government’s mandate.
The reform requires the eighth amendment to the Constitution and will be decided through a nationwide referendum scheduled for 4 April. The vote will coincide with the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections.
