Parliament to decide wording of govt system referendum ballot

Parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed said on Sunday that he will submit a proposal to the parliament on Monday to determine the wording on the ballot paper to be used in the referendum on the governance system in Maldives. 

Parliament on Thursday sent to the Elections Commission a resolution passed at Wednesday's sitting seeking a referendum on the system of governance in Maldives by October 30.

The Elections Commission (EC) has since requested the parliament to determine and provide the question to be asked of the people in the public referendum seeking views on changing the country's governance system.

At a press conference held at the parliament secretariat on Sunday, Nasheed briefed about the parliament's works regarding the referendum.

Nasheed said discussions are underway with the state authorities over the referendum.

He also said that a proposal will be submitted to Monday's parliament sitting to finalise the wording of the ballot. 

Discussions were held with speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Sunday about not advocating for a referendum on the system of governance at the moment, but to begin the process despite the outcome of the September 30 runoff, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said.