The government is trying to disrupt elections by merging the presidential and parliamentary elections, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdullah Shahid said on Monday (January 5).

In a post on social media X , Shahid said the government’s attempt to merge the two elections was a fraudulent and malicious plot to disrupt the elections and deprive the people of their constitutional right to vote.

The government has introduced a bill to shorten the term of the 20th parliament to combine the two elections. The bill proposes to change the date of the first sitting of the newly elected parliament to December 1. This will reduce the term of the current People's Majlis by six months.

President Mohamed Muizzu earlier said this constitutional amendment can only implemented after a public referendum. Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham told Adhadhu that the referendum will be announced when the bill is sent to the President for ratification.

If the bill passes, parliamentary and presidential elections will be held together in 2028. Muizzu is the only candidate confirmed to contest the election so far.