Former Maldivian President and current Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, has announced his intention to visit Maafushi Prison today to meet with the incarcerated leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC)/Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the possibility of holding a vote to determine the system of governance in the Maldives.
In a statement, Nasheed expressed his desire to engage President Yameen in conversations that could lead to a change in the country’s governance system. He suggested that President Yameen should have the opportunity to vote according to his preferences, and if necessary, they could work together to facilitate this process before the second round of the presidential elections.
Nasheed, who leads The Democrats, a political party currently in discussions with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and PPM regarding their support in the upcoming presidential runoff, emphasized the importance of making timely decisions. He noted that it’s essential for The Democrats to reach a clear decision promptly, with or without conditions, as suggested by the PPM.
It’s worth mentioning that Ilyas Labeeb, the presidential candidate for The Democrats, tabled a resolution in parliament earlier this week, calling for a vote on the governance system. As of now, the resolution remains pending.
The Maldives adopted a presidential system in 2007 following a referendum during then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration. The majority of citizens voted in favor of retaining the presidential system, while both Nasheed and Yameen had voted in favor of a parliamentary system during that referendum.
