President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has revealed that the Administration aims to submit the recall bill during the current parliamentary term. The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the President's Office today.
The President noted that from a democratic perspective, true public empowerment involves giving citizens the opportunity to remove Members of Parliament and council members during their term. He highlighted that recall systems are successfully implemented in many countries, and that technical consultations on introducing such a system in the Maldives are currently underway. He added that the bill would be tailored to the Maldivian context, drawing on successful international models.
The President also stated that holding two elections on the same day is closely linked to the potential introduction of a preferential voting system. He stressed that any changes to the electoral process must not undermine the future stability of the governance system, and that a shift from a two-round system to a single round must be underpinned by full transparency and accountability — a change he believes requires further public consultation.
On the question of electoral representation, the President expressed his desire for highly capable, educated, and experienced individuals to be prioritised for elected office. He encouraged a national dialogue on ensuring the inclusion of women, young people, and persons with disabilities in decision-making, and called for public discussion on allocating a set percentage of elected positions to these groups.
At this year's Presidential Address, the President had announced that, barring official travel, public holidays, or unforeseen circumstances, he would meet with the press every Monday from 10.00 to 11.00 am. Today's briefing was the third held under this arrangement.
