President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the Maldives cannot afford political instability and development delays caused by the current timing of presidential and parliamentary election cycles.

Speaking at People’s National Congress (PNC) "The Greater Addu" event on Saturday night, President Dr Muizzu said the country should move away from a system where every new presidential term begins amid political tensions.

A key focus of his remarks was the referendum scheduled for 4 April, which seeks public approval to hold presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently. President Dr Muizzu addressed concerns raised by the opposition, stating that the proposal does not merge the two elections into a single process. He explained that the elections would remain separate under the law but would take place on the same day.

President Dr Muizzu said aligning the election dates could significantly increase voter turnout, noting that parliamentary elections have historically recorded much lower participation compared to presidential elections. The President said this difference in turnout can weaken the ability of parliamentary representatives to fully reflect the will of the electorate.

Reflecting on his first months in office, the President highlighted the challenges of governing with a state budget passed by an opposition-led "supermajority" in the previous Parliament. President Dr Muizzu said this situation limited the Administration’s ability to immediately implement key development projects and policies outlined in its manifesto.

The President added that the current six-month gap between presidential and parliamentary elections can create political uncertainty, providing opportunities for opposition groups to focus on political manoeuvring rather than national development. He referred to attempts by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to initiate impeachment proceedings during the early period of his Administration, saying it demonstrated the political tensions that can arise under the current election timeline.

President Dr Muizzu also stated that his Administration has sought to maintain domestic stability and avoid political retaliation. He said the Government has refrained from pursuing legal action against political opponents, which he described as a shift from practices seen under previous administrations.