Solih vows to defend presidential system in referendum

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Tuesday that he will work to maintain a presidential system if a referendum is held to decide on the governance system in the Maldives.

The Democrats, led by former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, are working to hold a referendum to change Maldives' presidential system to a parliamentary system.

Parliament passed a resolution with the participation of The Democrats and MDP members to direct the Elections Commission (EC) to hold a referendum on whether to change the system of government before October 30.

Both systems will have their advantages and disadvantages, but the presidential system is the best for Maldives, the party's top leader President Solih said at the first meeting of the MDP National Council after his defeat in the presidential election. He said he would work to keep a presidential system if it went to a constitutional vote.

"I also have my support for the presidential system. If there is a constitutional vote, I will do whatever it takes to keep the presidential system in Maldives," he said.

The EC had earlier said with conditions that a constitutional vote could be held on October 29, but the commission has now informed the parliament that there is no possibility of holding a vote on that date. Therefore, The Democrats have proposed to postpone the vote to another date.