Kulhudhuffushi Mayor Mohamed Athif has said that the constitutional amendment to merge the presidential and parliamentary elections is a plot to undermine the Maldives' democratic system.

Appearing on Adhadhu's Fenna Nufenna talk show on Sunday night (March 15), Athif said the new constitution ensures the separation of the three state powers, but the proposed changes are against that principle.

"I think we should have more elections. I think the elections for councils and the Women's Development Committees should be held separately. The system should be designed so that there are elections every year," he said.

He also responded to the government’s claim that merging the elections would save MVR 50 million, saying political staff in foreign embassies alone cost more than MVR 50 million, which was too much waste.

“They are trying to undermine the democratic system in the Maldives and establish a dictatorship by overpowering the people with such nonsense," Athif said.