The power of the people can only be maintained as it is with a presidential system, Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim has said.
Sharing his views on the perceived need to change the system of government in the Maldives, Qasim said the president and MPs are directly elected by the people. However, while a prime minister heads the government in a parliamentary system, the prime minister is not directly elected by the people, he said.
“The power of government in the hands of the people can only be maintained as it is with a presidential system,” he said.
President of the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been calling to change the country's government system from a presidential system to a government system and has submitted a resolution to MDP's upcoming Congress seeking constitutional amendments to bring about the transition. However, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said he does not support changing the government system and has requested Nasheed to withdraw the resolution. Ministers and MPs are also expressing their views on the matter.
