The government’s bill to amend the Constitution to hold parliamentary and presidential elections together passed a parliamentary committee in five minutes on Monday.
The Standing Committee on Independent Institutions approved the bill without amendments and with limited discussion. The bill was submitted by the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah.
The proposed amendment requires parliamentary elections to be held on the same day as presidential elections. It also changes the date of the first sitting of a newly elected parliament to 1 December.
If adopted, the change would shorten the term of the current 20th Parliament by six months. Its term would end on 1 December 2028. The bill states that administrative arrangements for the new parliament must be completed before that date.
President Mohamed Muizzu earlier said the Constitution would be amended only after a public referendum. Attorney General Ahmed Usham later said the referendum would be held after Parliament passes the bill.
Usham said that once Parliament approves the amendment, Muizzu will ratify it and then request the Elections Commission to conduct a referendum. If voters reject the amendment, the law would be annulled.
It remains unclear why the president’s position on the sequence of approval and the referendum changed.
The government is expected to use the ruling party’s supermajority in the People’s Majlis to pass the bill. It also plans to fast-track the referendum alongside local council elections scheduled for April.
The Election Commission said it could arrange the referendum if it receives a formal request before the 18th of this month.