Yameen: People will not favor a parliamentary system in a vote

Opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has stated that the public will not favor a parliamentary system in constitutional referendum.

He made the remark in his first press conference following his acquittal from a money laundering conviction last November.

Speaking at the press conference – Yameen said that from the start, he has always favored the parliamentary system. He added that parliamentary system is the governing system which allows the participation of the public the most.

Nevertheless, he said that parliamentary system is not the most suitable governing system for the Maldives at the time.

“The parliamentary system is not the most suitable for the Maldives as political activities will further boost – and expenses will also increase. The current situation of the Maldives does not allow for a parliamentary system,” he had said.

Yameen said that if a parliamentary system is to be in effect in the Maldives – there are many perquisites which needs to be fulfilled.

On this note, he detailed that members elected to parliament on a party’s tick must adhere to whips if parliamentary system is followed, and that the system disallowed things such as resignation from the party.

Yameen said that this is not followed in the Maldives – whereas parliament members belong to different parties during different times which will pose difficulties if following a parliamentary system.

He went onto state that his views on parliamentary system nevertheless is the same as Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed.

However, he stressed that he has no intention to work alongside Nasheed politically, to hold a constitutional referendum or amend the constitution.

“In the political arena, it is more likely to not see me working with Nasheed than working with him. It is very unlikely,” he had said.

Yameen’s remarks comes at a time Nasheed has submitted a resolution to MDP’s congress scheduled for this month on holding a constitutional referendum to switch the governing system from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.