MDP agrees to a constitutional referendum post election

Main ruling MDP’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, on Monday, said the party has informed The Democrats of the party’s agreement to hold a constitutional referendum after this year’s presidential elections.

MDP’s candidate President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39 percent of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections held on September 9^th – placing second. The greatest number of votes was opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu with 46 percent of the votes. The Democrats, placed third, with 7.18 percent of votes becoming the choicest party to form a coalition for the runoff.

The Democrats, however, have put forth a condition to agree to a coalition; holding a constitutional referendum.

MDP’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail told Sun on Monday that the party was not agreeable to hold a constitutional referendum before the runoff, however, was agreeable to holding a constitutional referendum after the runoff. He noted that the party’s decision has now been informed to The Democrats.

“Have informed that we are agreeable to hold a constitutional referendum after the election,” he said.

However, The Democrats has been advocating to hold a constitutional referendum on September 25^th. Opposition PPM-PNC coalition has refused the condition, while the imprisoned PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has rejected a meeting with The Democrats’ driving force, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

Therewith, The Democrats has previously said they were only in discussions with MDP at the moment.

Meanwhile, The Democrats is set to make an official decision on their stance for the presidential election’s runoff at an interim council meeting of the party slated for 9:00pm tonight.

The Democrats was formed by a breakaway faction from MDP after major divisions between pro-government and anti-government members. Former members of MDP who left the party to join The Democrats have previously criticized the government, while also making major allegations.