President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that a proposed constitutional amendment to reserve a specific number of seats in the Parliament for young people and women would help end their longstanding underrepresentation in elected office.
The President made the remarks during an appearance on PSM News' Nation Chat podcast, where he highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen the political participation of young people and women.
He said that while the legal framework already provides equal opportunities for all citizens, young people and women continue to be underrepresented in elections. Although candidates from both groups contest parliamentary seats, they are often unsuccessful at the ballot box, making reform necessary.
President Muizzu said he intends to introduce a constitutional amendment to reserve a fixed proportion of Parliament seats for young people and another proportion for women.
Responding to criticism of the proposal, the President said equal opportunities already exist in law, but the outcome in elections tells a different story.
"It is true that everyone has equal opportunities under the law. Young people and women can contest elections. But when it comes to winning votes, these groups are still left behind. Very few women are elected, and that has to change," he said.
The President added that although efforts had been made within the party system to create greater opportunities for women, meaningful progress would only be achieved through a quota system in Parliament.
He also stressed that young people should have a genuine voice in national affairs and be actively involved in the country's governance. He said the establishment of the Youth Parliament was intended to provide that opportunity, describing it as one of the strongest platforms available for youth participation.
President Muizzu further said he envisions the Youth Parliament meeting during recesses of the Parliament, allowing young representatives from all 93 constituencies to deliberate on national issues and contribute ideas that could inform parliamentary work.