The Supreme Court of the Maldives has accepted one of two cases concerning the proposed referendum to combine the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections and hold them on the same day.
The accepted constitutional case was filed by members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) legal team, Aik Ahmed Easa and Ibrahim Shiyam.
According to the lawyers, the decree issued by President Mohamed Muizzu regarding the referendum includes a question that they argue is unconstitutional. They contend that the referendum cannot proceed if the disputed question remains.
The Supreme Court has determined that the case meets its procedural requirements and has officially informed the applicants that it has been accepted for review.
Meanwhile, former Kendhoo constituency MP Ali Hussain has also filed a separate constitutional case challenging the referendum. His case seeks a ruling that the constitutional amendment passed by Parliament to combine the elections is invalid. It remains unclear whether his case has been accepted by the court.
Previously, the MDP filed a related case at the High Court of the Maldives, requesting an interim order to halt the referendum vote. However, no decision has yet been made on whether that case will be accepted.
