Petition calls for referendum to decide on parliamentary system

A petition has been prepared calling for a constitutional referendum to switch from a presidential system to a parliamentary system. 

Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), who has signed the petition, told Sun on Saturday evening that the petition is spearheaded by “the people”. 

The petition is being signed by members of the ruling MDP national council, who support MDP leader, former President Mohamed Nasheed – a vocal advocate for a parliamentary system in Maldives. 

Bonde said that the government is not functioning in par with the expectations of the people under the presidential system currently practiced in Maldives.  

He said that the Maldives in need of a better system to conduct the day-today affairs of the government. 

“The petition is being prepared to switch from presidential to parliamentary system. 70 percent of the Maldivian people have said yes to a parliamentary system. Focal points have been established to gather signatures from across Maldives. The goal is to gather 100,000 signatures within the next 100 days,” he said. 

Bonde said that arrangements will be made to take the petition online. 

He said that the petition will be submitted to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Parliament. 

Maldives conducted a constitutional referendum in back in 2007, during former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration, to decide on a system of government in the country. 92 percent voted in favor of a presidential system.