Former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor stated last night that even if the public decides on 4th April that the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary should be held on the same day, questions surrounding democracy would not see a reduction and that it signifies proper democratic practice.
She said this at a panel discussion held by policymv while speaking on the referendum vote regarding the combining of the elections.
Azima, Maldives' first female Attorney General, said that even if the elections are held on the same day, the citizens would still pose questions regarding the President.
"Would there be fewer questions about democracy or are there less people to ask those questions? In no situation would my say in the matter of a Parliament member being elected for my constituency be any less. We need to think about these things from a constitutional perspective," said Azima.
According to her, the saying that democracy should always operate by giving employment to citizens or by "favoring" citizens should be left behind. Maldives needs a "strong Presidential system" and that national debt and foreign policy should be managed within that system, said Azima.
"We should not have a policy where the Judiciary and foreign policy are amended once every five years or once every three years. What is needed is more stability with less elections," stated Azima.
While shedding light on past incidents, Azima went on to say that there is no legal framework where any President has the power to stop elections and no sitting President has ever secured a second term.
"The truth is that the people know. We do not want that no matter how many employment opportunities are offered, no matter how many projects are in play, a President being elected for a second time has not been written down in our history," as per Azima.
During last night's discussion, former Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed stated that in 2019, while conducting presidential election campaigns, then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was in favor of combining the Presidential Election, the Parliamentary Election and the Local Council Election. Former President Mohamed Nasheed has lately also been in favor of combining the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, highlighted Dhiyana.
However, both the former Presidents have since changed their stance.
Dhiyana said that if the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election are held separately, the government comes out in full force for the Parliamentary Election. She said that such a situation would bring an end to a balance in the Parliament. She also stated that the people bend to government influence.
