Maldives' constitutional and legal system has been designed for a deadlock, forcing any elected president to perform duties with "one hand tied behind the back", president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said on Wednesday.
In his address to the nation on the occasion of Maldives’ 52nd independence day, president Yameen referred to the constitutional experts researching the Maldivian constitutional and legal system, stressing that the constitutional framework of the Maldivian system has loopholes "allowing enemies of the state to meddle in governmental and state affairs."
"The Maldivian Constitution has been found to be too complicated and costly for a country with such limited resources and man-power," he added.
"The Constitutional framework, newly introduced in 2008 is too burdensome and complicated for a country, which cannot boast a lifestyle of democratic history."
President noted that while the basic tenets of democracy is for the peoples’ affairs to be handled by elected public officials, the country's elections framework and that of its elected officials was the perfect example of the complexity of the Maldivian Constitutional framework.
President Yameen highlighted since Maldives adopted the new constitution nine years ago, seven national elections have been held.
"Based on the number of days allocated for elections in the legislation, almost 40% of that time has been spent on direct election activities," he noted.
"Every 466th person is a salaried public official elected at a National Election. Up until March 2017, the figure stood at 292."
If all the elected and salaried public officials are working in the best interests of the people, the question arises as to who benefits from safer streets and safer communities, he asked
"Who would benefit when students are able to concentrate on their exams and the children and the elderly are able to sleep peacefully. Would the country as a whole not benefit if peace and stability prevailed?" the president questioned.
"Should not the primary responsibility of the elected officials be to protect the interest of the people whom they are representing? Is their obligation not one of a trust?"
Maldives has been ravaged by fresh political strife after all opposition leaders including former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom penned a historic treaty to work against the government.
In recent weeks, the opposition has scored major victories after wresting parliament majority from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with help of government lawmakers loyal to the deposed PPM leader Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
The elder Gayoom had a major falling-out with half brother president Yameen which has seen the ruling party split into two factions. The former strongman who ruled the country for three decades before being defeated by Nasheed in the first democratic elections in 2008.
