President Mohamed Muizzu has said that introducing a system allowing citizens to recall elected officials would represent a more democratic approach to governance, revealing that work on such a mechanism is currently at the technical consultation stage.
Speaking at a press briefing at the President’s Office, the President noted that under the existing framework, there is no direct way for the public to remove Members of Parliament or councillors once they are elected.
President Muizzu said that, from a democratic perspective, the authority to remove elected representatives should rest with the people themselves.
He pointed out that at present, the only route through which a sitting member can lose their position is via a ruling by the Supreme Court — highlighting what he described as a gap in public accountability mechanisms.
The President noted that recall systems are already practiced in several countries as a means of strengthening democratic oversight, but stressed that any such model must be carefully adapted to the Maldivian context.
He said the government is currently studying how best to implement a recall mechanism, taking into account both legal and institutional considerations.
Ongoing consultations are focusing on several technical aspects of the proposed system, including the number of signatures required to initiate a recall petition, quorum thresholds, and the parliamentary majority needed to remove an elected official.
Officials are also examining the legal grounds under which a recall could be triggered, as part of efforts to ensure the system is both effective and fair.
President Muizzu expressed hope that a proposal for the recall mechanism could be submitted within the current parliamentary term, noting that work is progressing toward that goal.
He added that the initiative forms part of a wider push to introduce constitutional and legal reforms aimed at strengthening governance and expanding public participation in the political process.
The proposal, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in the Maldives’ democratic framework by giving voters a more direct role in holding elected representatives accountable.
