Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim has said that the issue of conducting presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day was discussed during the deliberations of the Special Parliament that drafted the Constitution.

Deputy Speaker Nazim made the remarks while responding to claims made by opposition figures and narratives circulating on social media suggesting that the constitutional drafting process did not include discussions on holding the two elections simultaneously.

According to Nazim, records of the Special Parliament show that proposals were submitted during the constitutional drafting process to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections together. He noted that three separate amendments proposing such an arrangement were introduced during the deliberations.

He stated that the proposals were submitted by former MPs Ibrahim Ismail, Ali Waheed and Shaheen Hameed, each suggesting that presidential and parliamentary elections be held within a set period after the Constitution came into effect. The Deputy Speaker also shared documents relating to these proposals on social media, saying they serve as evidence that the matter was debated at the time.

His remarks follow criticism from opposition figures, including former Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, who said that there had been no debate during the constitution-drafting process regarding holding the two elections on the same day.

The issue has resurfaced ahead of a public referendum scheduled for 4 April, which will be held alongside the Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections. The referendum will determine whether presidential and parliamentary elections should be held on the same day.

The Deputy Speaker also noted that holding referendums alongside other elections is a common practice internationally, and reiterated that the idea of conducting the two national elections together had been considered during the constitutional deliberations.