President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has no choice other than ratifying a reapproved bill to postpone parliamentary elections, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday.
In response to a question from Adhadhu during a campaign event, Solih said the government wants to hold elections early because their popularity may decline and their "secrets" might be revealed.
"There is no other choice now," Solih said, noting that the Constitution requires the President to ratify bills that have been reapproved by the Parliament.
"It is very important that the bill is ratified without delays. That is stated in the Constitution. A ruling by the Supreme Court also mentions that," he added.
Solih was at a campaign event for Maafanu South candidate Iyad Saleem.
The Parliament first approved the bill on February 11 to hold voting 10 days after Ramadan if an election coincides with the fasting month.
Ramadan begins on March 10 this year while the Elections Commission (EC) has scheduled the parliamentary polls for March 17.
The bill on postponing parliamentary elections was sent back to the Parliament for reconsideration but was passed without any changes on Wednesday.
President's Office said on Sunday that the bill was returned upon the advice of Attorney General Ahmed Usham that it could obstruct free and fair elections.
The Parliament passed the bill without any changes. Forty-seven MPs voted in favor while 14 MPs voted against the bill.
Opposition parties have voiced concern over holding the vote in Ramadan as the voter turnout may be low during the fasting month.
"We are seeing very clearly now. The lies made in order to come to power are being exposed to the people day by day," Solih said.
Article 91 (b) of the Constitution states that if a bill returned by the President is passed by a majority without any changes, it shall be ratified by the President and published in the Government Gazette."
This means that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu will now have to ratify the bill and publish it in the government gazette.
Meanwhile, the President's Office said on Wednesday that the President will uphold the law and the Constitution.
Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu that the President will proceed in accordance with the law. However, he did not give a specific date for ratification.
The Parliament Secretariat has now sent the bill to the President's Office. When the bill is ratified, the polls will be postponed for a date after April 20.
