MDP unanimously votes against backing parliamentary system
The Democrats, led by former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, are working to hold a referendum to make the change.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
The MDP’s National Council on Tuesday decided not to support a parliamentary system if the country goes to a referendum to change the system of government.
MDP Deputy Chairman Ibrahim Waheed moved a resolution in the National Council on Tuesday evening stating that the party should not support the parliamentary system.
The National Council decided not to support the parliamentary system as proposed by Waheed with a unanimous vote of 90 members present at the meeting.
The MDP National Council passed the motion, while the party's top leader, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih spoke in support of the presidential system. Speaking on Tuesday evening, he said he would work to maintain a presidential system if the matter went to a referendum.
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 has passed a resolution asking the Election Commission (EC) to conduct a public referendum on whether to change the system of government before 30th of this month. The resolution was passed with the support of MDP members then.
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.
