Ex-President Maumoon: No room for parliamentary system in Maldives

Maldives Reform Movement (MRM)'s interim leader, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said on Tuesday that there is no room for a parliamentary system of government in Maldives.

His comment comes in response to a recent call by Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed to hold a constitutional referendum to decide on a parliamentary system next year.

In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Maumoon said he believes the presidential system to be the most suitable and beneficial government system for Maldives.

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެޙާލަތާއެންމެގުޅޭ ރާއްޖެއަށް އެންމެފައިދާހުރި ވެރިކަމުގެނިޒާމަކީ ރިޔާސީނިޒާމު. ދިވެހިރައްޔިތުންގެ ބޮޑުއަޣްލަބިއްޔަކުންނިންމާފައިވަނީވެސް ހަމަ ރިޔާސީނިޒާމު. ވީމާ ބަރުލަމާނީނިޒާމަކަށް ރާއްޖެއަކު ޖާގައެއްނެތް. ވަރަށްސާފު.

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) July 6, 2021

“The presidential system is the most suitable to Maldives’ situation, and the most beneficial government system for Maldives. The Maldivian people decided by a landslide on a presidential system. There’s therefore no room for a parliamentary system in Maldives. Its very clear,” he said.

In response to a question during an episode of Ask Speaker on Monday night, Nasheed said he plans on running in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary for the next presidential election, but prefers a parliamentary system of government over a presidential system.

Nasheed said he believes a constitutional referendum should be taken next year to decide whether Maldives should switch to a parliamentary system.