Ex-President Maumoon: System cannot be changed every now and then

Former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that the system of governance in the Maldives cannot be changed every now and then when the people have overwhelmingly favored their support for a certain system. 

Maumoon made the comment after former President and current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, communicated to current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, his wish to change the system of governance in the Maldives from a Presidential system to a Parliamentary system and to appoint himself as the Prime Minister. Nasheed, in a message to the President, stated that he did not wish to remain on the sidelines anymore and wanted to run the nation by becoming the Prime Minister. 

Ex-President Maumoon speaking on the issue said that "the current system in place was voted for overwhelmingly by the people. It cannot be changed every now and then,"

Maumoon was speaking about a 2007 referendum taken on the system of governance in the nation, which saw people decide on a presidential system. However, Nasheed who is a strong advocate of a parliamentary system has been arguing that the 2008 passed constitution was formed in a way supporting a parliamentary system and that such a system is the most appropriate one for the nation. 

Nasheed in his message proposed to President bandoning the 2023 presidential elections, making the transition to a parliamentary system, and dissolving the government. He suggested that the Parliament govern the Maldives until the next parliamentary elections.