President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that his administration will seek the voice of Addu City’s residents before introducing any legislative changes, describing the upcoming referendum as a landmark moment in Maldivian governance.
Speaking on the Rayyithunnaa Eku podcast, President Muizzu reiterated his campaign promise to address residents’ concerns about Addu City’s structure and governance. He stressed that under a decentralised system, citizens will decide how their city is administered—whether islands should keep their individual councils or be governed by the unified Addu City Council.
The referendum, set for October, will also tackle whether all inhabited islands in the atoll should have “Addu” prefixed to their names, pending ratification of the enabling bill by the Elections Commission.
In addition, President Muizzu committed to safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. He said that amendments to the budget next year will include a portion of funds set aside as block grants to bolster judicial autonomy.
Responding to public debate over compensation for former presidents and members of parliament, the President acknowledged that current provisions are misaligned with the country’s economic situation and promised review and adjustment.
Further reforms announced include: bolstered funding for Women’s Development Committees, a revised block grant formula for local councils, and operational changes to the State Trading Organisation aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to essential goods.
