Voters reject the referendum on joint elections, 68.7 per cent to 31.3
The constitutional amendment that would have merged presidential and parliamentary polls has been turned back at the ballot — and the government has read it as a verdict.
The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which would have synchronised presidential and parliamentary elections from 2029 onward, failed at a national referendum on Saturday by a margin of more than two to one. Preliminary figures published by the Election Commission showed 68.7 per cent of voters against and 31.3 per cent in favour.
The amendment was drafted and rushed through an extraordinary sitting in January, over opposition objections, and sent to the country on the same day as the local council vote.
President Mohamed Muizzu, addressing the nation late on Saturday evening, acknowledged the outcome as the people's will and said the government would not bring a further constitutional amendment to the Majlis in this term. Opposition leaders, for their part, called the result a correction to a line that had crept too far out from shore.
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