The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) attempted to file a case at the Civil Court of the Maldives seeking to halt a planned national referendum related to changes in the electoral system.

According to the party, the court rejected their submission multiple times before the case could proceed to a full hearing. MDP stated that the court returned the filing on three occasions and asked them to revise parts of the submission each time.

Because the case was not accepted for review, the court did not issue any interim order that could pause the referendum process.

The case was filed in response to a referendum announced by Mohamed Muizzu, the President of the Maldives. The referendum asks voters whether they support amending the Constitution so that presidential elections and parliamentary elections are held on the same day in the future.

At present, the Maldives holds these elections separately, with the presidential election usually occurring several months before the election for members of the People's Majlis, the country’s parliament. The proposed change would synchronize the two election cycles so they take place together.

MDP challenged the referendum on legal grounds, arguing that the presidential decree announcing it did not meet certain legal requirements. The party claimed the decree did not sufficiently explain the purpose of the referendum and that the process could violate provisions in existing referendum laws.

According to MDP, the decree could also limit political campaigning rights and potentially affect citizens’ voting rights. Because of these concerns, the party asked the court to issue a temporary order to stop the referendum until the legal issues were examined.

The referendum proposal is linked to broader constitutional changes supported by the current government. Supporters of the proposal argue that holding the two national elections together would reduce the financial costs associated with conducting separate elections and minimize political disruption caused by frequent national campaigns.

The government has also suggested that combining the elections could improve voter participation and make the electoral system more efficient.

However, the proposal has become a significant political dispute between the government and the opposition. MDP has publicly opposed the change, arguing that combining the elections could give the ruling party a stronger advantage by allowing it to campaign for both the presidency and parliament at the same time.

Critics also argue that such a change could alter the balance of power in Maldivian politics. Because of these disagreements, the referendum has become a central political issue, with both sides preparing campaigns to persuade voters before the vote takes place.