Malé, Maldives – Chairperson of Maldivian Democratic Party and Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail has said that hardly 10 percent of the party members support a parliamentary system for Maldives.
This comes following the decree submitted by President of MDP and Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed party’s upcoming congress on August 19 – 21, for a referendum for parliamentary system in Maldives.
Following the remarks from Speaker Nasheed stating that without a parliamentary system that the governments support would drop to 27 percent, Minister Fayyaz told that a parliamentary system would not be supported by even 10 percent of the party membership and it would be much less from the entire country.
“There are procedures to go for a referendum. People cannot go for a referendum every other day when someone has a change of mind. Congress will represent the members of MDP. If there is that much support [for parliamentary system], we can see it within the congress”
Chairperson of Maldivian Democratic Party and Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail
Minister Fayyaz further added that the people of Maldives want to find a way for a stable and democratic society and that this is not the time to change the governing system of the nation.
“There are positive aspects to both these systems. Monarchies have its advantages as well. If we get someone like Umar [Umar bin Al-Khattab] as a khalifa then we would never wish for it [the system] to stop”
Chairperson of Maldivian Democratic Party and Minister of Economic Development, Fayyaz Ismail
While Nasheed plans to move ahead with his dream of a Parliamentary system in the Maldives, MDP itself is divided on which system is better for the country. The general gist of the divide is that Nasheed’s supporters are in favor of the move, while President Solih’s supporters want to remain in a Presidential system.
