Parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed has called for constitutional reforms to change the country into a federal state.
“We don’t need a harbor to get what Maldivians deserve. We don’t need multi-purpose halls or roads. We need people to be empowered. The chains should be freed,” Nasheed said at the Thila’uthuru award ceremony in Dhihdhoo island held by Haa Alif atoll council Sunday night.
“We must pave the way for people to move forward… The biggest obstacle to development is repression,” he added underlining the need to change into a federal state.
The Maldives constitution says the country is a unitary state. Nasheed stated that several constitutional reforms are needed.
- Changing into a federal state
- Changing into a parliamentary system
- Limiting the number of parliamentarians
- Changing the composition of Judicial Service Commission (JSC)
- Including the number of Supreme Court judges in the constitution
- Changing the constituency formation of the People’s Majlis
A warning of instability
Nasheed said that he understands the errors in the constitution, especially the local governance chapter. The clauses mentioned in the local governance act for the empowerment of people must be included in the constitution, he stated.
The ownership of islands should go to the atolls, he said, adding that the increasing complaints from atolls will lead to unrest if changes are not made.
“We should not think that Maldives has always been peaceful. A lot of civil unrest has taken place in this country. The spirit of separation and the colors of coup have always been with us,” he warned.
If we don't think about changing into a federal system today, I fear we may witness a very sad day in our lives. When the youth are economically empowered and begin believing in a philosophy, they will challenge themselves to rise and win. That is what history tells us.
He also criticized the development projects in the islands because “they do not directly benefit the people.”
“There is a gap between the projects and the people. I support a federal system because you [island and atoll leaders] will fill that gap.”
But he did not elaborate on his opinion.
Former president and parliament speaker at the Thila'uthuru award ceremony. -- Photo: People's Majlis
Nasheed advocated a change into a federal state during the MDP presidential primary campaign earlier this year.
He lost the primary to incumbent president Ibrahim Mohmed Solih and formed the Fikurehge Dhirun coalition in the ruling party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
His supporters have now left MDP and are working to form the Democrats party but Nasheed who remains the president of MDP has not commented on the matter.
