MRM conditions presidential system for renewing MDP alliance
While MRM is yet to take a call on the upcoming elections, there are differences of opinion among senior party members.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) on Monday set maintaining the existing presidential system as the governance system as the key condition for renewing the coalition deal with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for a second term.
MRM, an ally of the ruling coalition, held a discussion meeting at the party office on Monday evening to form an alliance with MDP for the September 9 election.
According to a statement released by MRM on Twitter on Tuesday regarding the meeting, MRM presented five main conditions to MDP to keep the coalition alive. They are:
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Ensuring that the country's independence and sovereignty are not compromised, no matter how small the scale
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Ensuring that the government can function in a manner that is in the interest of the people and the principles of MRM
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Findings a way to ensure that all parties respect the coalition agreement and that both sides will abide by the agreement
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Government's policies and ways to address the country's major challenges
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Assurance that the country's governance system will continue to be presidential
"It has been decided to hold detailed discussion meetings with these proposals and other policies," it said.
While maintaining the presidential system has been proposed as a condition for forming an alliance for another term, MDP president Mohamed Nasheed has been advocating a transition of the system of governance to a parliamentary system.
However, President Solih, who contested against Nasheed and won the MDP presidential ticket in January, supports a presidential system.
Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim, who has decided to contest the September 9 presidential election separately, has also invited MRM to form an alliance. Following the invitation, MRM had said earlier this month that the two parties would continue talks.
While MRM is yet to take a call on the upcoming elections, there are differences of opinion among senior party members.
With the presidential election round the corner, MDP and PPM have invited parties to form an alliance for the presidential election. The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) led by businessman and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, and religious conservative Adhaalath Party have decided to form an alliance with President Solih.
