If the newly-formed The Democrats win this year’s presidential election, a referendum will be held on changing the system of government, presidential candidate Ilyas Labeeb has said.
Speaking to reporters upon returning to Male’ after concluding a campaign trip to Addu city, Ilyas said there were doubts and questions among the public about the first referendum on the system of government.
“Many people look at the referendum taken before the 2008 constitution with doubt, was it a legitimate outcome or not. And questions are being raised even today,” Ilyas said at the Velana International Airport in response to a question from Adhadhu.
The system of government in the Maldives has been extensively debated over the past 15 years and a Democrats administration would facilitate a referendum on changing the system, he said.
Ilyas Labeeb at VIA. -- Photo: Miraan Nashim/ Adhadhu
“In a Democrats government, we will provide that opportunity to the public, to take a yes or no vote to see what they want. We will open that space to the public,” Ilyas said.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who leads The Democrats, has long been advocating for the parliamentary system as better suited to the Maldives.
Nasheed favors parliament running the government with the accountability of MPs to the public. He characterized parliament in a presidential system as an arena that “the president tries to control.”
The Democrats’ policies for the September 9 presidential election also include constitutional amendments for major changes to the composition of parliament, including a reduction in the number of MPs to 76 from 87 at present.
Under the Democrats' policy, 55 MPs would be elected from Male' and the atolls and eight seats would be reserved for women with the country divided into four regions (north, south, east and west), two seats to represent persons with disabilities and 11 seats based on the proportion of votes won by parties.
