President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a new presidential decree amending the questions to be presented in the upcoming referendum on Addu City’s administrative structure, specifically concerning the constituencies of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo.
The updated decree, released on Sunday, revises an earlier order issued on 6 October 2025, and was enacted under Article 115(p) of the Constitution of the Maldives and Section 4(c) of the Public Referendum Act, following the recommendation of the Cabinet.
The key amendment removes the earlier question that proposed the formation of a joint council for Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo, narrowing the referendum’s focus to whether each constituency should have its own separate council.
Under the revised framework, the ballot will now pose the following single question to residents in each area:
-
For Addu Hulhudhoo: Should a separate council be established for Addu Hulhudhoo?
-
For Addu Meedhoo: Should a separate council be established for Addu Meedhoo?
-
For Addu Feydhoo: Should a separate council be established for Addu Feydhoo?
According to the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), the referendum will be held on 25 October 2025, with polling open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for all registered voters in the respective constituencies. Results are expected to be announced the following day.
The referendum marks a significant moment in the decentralisation process, as it will determine whether these Addu constituencies continue under the existing Addu City Council framework or transition toward more localised governance through independent councils.
