Former Attorney General Uza Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed has said holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously is the only way to prevent a ruling government from securing a parliamentary supermajority.

Speaking in a programme on MMTV, Uza Dhiyana said the current system, where parliamentary elections are held after the presidential election, allows incumbent governments to consolidate power by leveraging State resources and institutional influence, resulting in dominant parliamentary majorities.

She cited the study “The Cost of Politics in Maldives” by the Westminster Foundation, noting that it highlights the extent of government influence in parliamentary elections, adding that State-backed entities and political momentum following a presidential victory contribute to the formation of supermajorities, which she said could be mitigated by conducting both elections simultaneously.

Uza Dhiyana said statistical trends show that public support is more evenly distributed during presidential elections, and that holding elections on the same day would produce a parliament that more accurately reflects voter preferences, while reducing the likelihood of State-driven electoral advantages and strengthening the balance of power.