Nasheed to Maumoon: You rigged all votes taken during your time

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed confronted former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Twitter on Monday, accusing him of rigging all elections taken during his administration.

The accusation follows a constitutional amendment submitted by DRP leader, Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir to switch the system of governance in Maldives from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.

In a tweet on Monday, Maumoon expressed his support for the presidential system, stating that he found the presidential system of governance to be the most fitting for Maldives in light of the political, social and economic situation of the country.

He said the Maldivian people themselves showed their backing to the presidential system in the 2007 referendum.

ދިވެހި ރާއްޖޭގެ ސިޔާސީ އިޖްތިމާޢީ އިޤްތިޞާދީ ޙާލަތަށް ބަލާއިރު ރާއްޖެއަށް އެންމެ ކަމުދާ ވެރިކަމުގެ ނިޒާމަކީ ރިޔާސީ ނިޒާމު ކަން ކަށަވަރު. 2007 ވަނަ އަހަރު ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައްޔިތުން ވަރަށް ބޮޑު އަޣްލަބިއްތަކުން ނިންމަވާފައި ވަނީ ވެސް ހަމަ އެހެން .

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) August 24, 2020

In response to the tweet, Nasheed accused Maumoon of rigging elections taken during his administration.

“President Maumoon manipulated and rigged all votes taken during his lifetime. The system vote of 2007 was also clearly rigged,” wrote Nasheed in a tweet.

The 2007 referendum to decide the system of governance in Maldives was taken during Maumoon’s administration. He supported a presidential system, while Nasheed and MDP advocated for a parliamentary system.

Nasheed said on Monday that the only election which Maumoon did not rig was the 2008 presidential elections, which he lost to Nasheed himself.

“The only vote you weren’t able to rig was the 2008 vote. That you lost,” said Nasheed.

Raees Maumoon ge hayyaipulhuga konme vote eh vanee e manikfaanu olhuvaalavvaa makaru hahdhavaafa. 2007 ge nizam ge vote ves kan’daelhigen olhuvaalevvi. Manikfaanah olhuvaa nulevvunee hama ekani 2008 ge vote. E in vee bali

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) August 24, 2020

Nasheed has repeatedly stated his support to establishing a parliamentary system in Maldives.

He has also stated that the Constitution, which took effect in 2008, is based on attributes of parliamentary system of governance.

The Constitution establishes that the authority to govern Maldives lies with the President, and that the President is the Head of State and the Head of Government.

Jabir, explaining the reason for his constitutional amendment to switch the system of governance, said that while it was declared following a 2007 referendum that the system of governance in Maldives will be a presidential system, the Constitution itself, which was ratified in 2008, does not explicitly state that the system of governance must be a presidential system.