Nasheed: MDP agreed to back system vote if Democrats don’t join PPM

Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, the founder of Democrats, says that the MDP had agreed to provide its full cooperation to the referendum on a change in the system of governance, if the party does not endorse either candidate in the recent presidential election runoff.

On Tuesday, the Parliament debated on the letter submitted by the Elections Commission (EC), seeking to clarify certain information regarding the referendum.

Before adjourning the sitting for a break for breakfast, Nasheed said that MDP had told members of the Democrats that they would provide their full cooperation to holding the referendum, if the Democrats refrain from endorsing either candidate in the runoff.

“As far as I know, they told Democrats that the MDP would fully cooperate in the referendum if they refrain from endorsing anyone,” he said.

Nasheed said the MDP had obtained a letter from the Democrats agreeing to that, but the MDP failed to send a response back.

He said that the MDP cannot be held true to its words.

“I wouldn’t say the MDP is the sort of party that’s words can be trusted at this time. But this is what happened,” said Nasheed, letting out a chuckle.

Democrats had placed third in the first round of the presidential election with 7 percent of votes. It had been heavily courted by both the MDP and the PPM-PNC for a potential coalition deal for the runoff. The party pushed for a referendum to change the system of governance to a parliamentary system – and sought support from both parties during negotiations.

On October 20, the Parliament passed a resolution calling for the referendum to be held before October 30. Those who voted for the resolution included several MPs from the MDP.

But the party ultimately decided against supporting either party in the runoff.

MDP’s Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the incumbent president, went on to lose the runoff to PPM-PNC’s Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

On Monday, President Solih said that 99 percent of the MDP’s national council was opposed to changing to a parliamentary system, or even taking a referendum. He said that he himself was opposed to a change, and said that the president-elect must be given a chance.

During Tuesday’s sitting, lawmakers from the Democrats called for a postponement to the referendum.