Nasheed: My support is only with those who favor a parliamentary system

Leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed has stated that amongst the candidates contesting in the party’s upcoming National Council elections – his vote will be for those that support a parliamentary system in the Maldives.

Nasheed had made this statement via a tweet today – noting that he will be endorsing all candidates who favor a parliamentary system.

MDP members who are supporters of Nasheed have always backed his advocacy for a parliamentary system in the Maldives and in this regard, have started a petition yesterday, 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” and that it is the people who want the governing system to be changed.

He also noted that the government is not functioning on par with the expectations of the people under the presidential system currently practiced – whereas the Maldives is in need of a better system to conduct the day-to-day affairs of the government. Additionally, he also claimed that over 70 percent of Maldivians support a parliamentary system.