President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said the Maldives' government system would not be changed during the current term.
Replying to a question at a press conference held at the Presidential Office on Wednesday, President Solih said he formulated a manifesto before going to the people as soon as he became a presidential candidate in 2018.
"It [ the manifesto] was formulated in consultation with all the parties in the coalition. There will be no mention of a referendum on the government system within the five years of this term," he said.
The president said he was implementing his manifesto and stressed that a referendum on government system change was not part of it.
"If I am to something that is not in the manifesto, then I have to consult with everyone in the coalition. I can only move forward with the input from all parties," he said.
The president further said he does believe he has the opportunity to implement anything that is not part of the manifesto during the remainder of the current term. If a government system change is sought, there are legal avenues that can be explored by those who seek it, he said.
Former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has made no secret of the fact that he advocates for a parliamentary government system instead of a presidential system. He has previously said that the manifesto includes changing the system. However, the government system change is mentioned in the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s manifesto only.
