President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that conducting presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day would be in the best interest of the country, arguing that the move would strengthen democratic participation and governance stability.

Speaking at the Dhiveheenge Raajje Tharaweeh event organised by PNC on Thursday night, the President said it is his intention to align the two national elections, noting that such an arrangement would bring benefits to the public.

The President cited voter turnout data from previous elections to support his position, highlighting consistently higher participation in presidential elections compared to parliamentary polls held months later.

In 2008, voter turnout stood at 85.3 percent in the first round of the presidential election and 86.5 percent in the second round, while turnout dropped to 70 percent in the parliamentary elections held six months later.

Similarly, in 2013, turnout reached 87.2 percent in the first round and 91.4 percent in the second round of the presidential election, compared to 78.8 percent in the subsequent parliamentary election.

In 2018, 89.22 percent of voters participated in the presidential election, while turnout for the 2019 parliamentary election stood at 81.32 percent. In the most recent election cycle, 79 percent voted in the first round of the presidential election and 87 percent in the second round, compared to 76 percent in the parliamentary polls.

The President said increasing voter participation remains central to strengthening democratic legitimacy, arguing that holding both elections concurrently would help ensure broader public engagement in selecting national leadership.

He also stated that the current gap between presidential and parliamentary elections can create administrative challenges. The President noted that when parliamentary elections are held several months after a presidential election, a newly elected administration must operate under a budget introduced by the outgoing government, potentially affecting the implementation of new policy priorities.

The President said legislative amendments would be introduced to ensure that the national budget is passed in December in alignment with the decision endorsed by the public through a referendum.

Referring to political debate surrounding the proposal, the President said some opposition leaders had previously supported the idea of holding elections concurrently but were now opposing it. He urged the public to consider the proposal in light of what he described as long-term national benefits.