Ilyas submits motion seeking referendum on govt system before runoff

The Democrats' MP Ilyas Labeeb has moved a motion in parliament on Tuesday seeking to hold a referendum on changing the system of governance from presidential to parliamentary.

Provisional results of the Saturday's election show main opposition PPM-PNC's Dr Mohamed Muizz leading the polls with 46%, while President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39%. 

To win outright, a candidate needs more than 50% of the votes. From the preliminary results, it is certain that a runoff between the top two contenders will take place on September 30.

Meanwhile, The Democrats' MPs during the parliament sitting on Tuesday advocated for a public referendum on governance change before the second round.

The Democrats presidential candidate, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas, who finished third in the election, said a motion had been submitted to the parliament for a referendum on the system, during a meeting of The Democrats’ interim council on Tuesday evening.

"Since the adoption of the constitution in 2008, no party has won a majority in a presidential election except by forming a coalition with other parties," he said.

Ilyas said that because of that, people do not have the power to vote freely. He said that it is a problem of the presidential system in Maldives.

"I think it's time to clarify with the people again. Now I thought it was the right time to take a vote on whether the system should be kept as it is or changed," Ilyas said.

He noted that according to the motion submitted to parliament, a referendum vote on the system change should be held before September 30.

The Democrats founder and parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed has always argued that a parliamentary system is more appropriate for Maldives than a presidential system. Therefore, the conditions for The Democrats to form a coalition for the second round include a vote on governance, PPM sources confirmed to Atoll Times.

The parties that went to the second round of the election are working to form coalitions with the parties and candidates who lost the first round.:

However, at Tuesday’s meeting of The Democrats’ interim council, most members spoke against forming a coalition with the MDP. Democrats Vice-President Eva Abdulla has said that supporting President Solih is not the way for the party.

Maldives was declared to have a presidential system in an August 2007 referendum. The then president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom supported the presidential system while Nasheed supported the parliamentary system.

The result of the vote is: