Maldives ruling party plans to extend the presidential term of incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom after his re-election in September, chief government lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik revealed Thursday.
Speaking during a ruling party campaign rally at Haa Alif Atoll Ihavandhoo island on Thursday evening, the Villi-Maafannu lawmaker revealed intentions to keep president Yameen in office beyond the two five year terms enshrined in the constitution.
"I intend to keep president Yameen in office after he completes his second five year term from 2018 to 2023. The constitution gives a president two five year terms. Which is 10 years. What we're talking about is maintaining this speed of development," the outspoken lawmaker said.
The country's electoral watchdog had announced the presidential elections in September for which president Yameen had announced plans to stand for. However, president Yameen remains under intense opposition and international pressure after removing all of his rivals from the equation.
The main opposition leaders including former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed along with Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla inked pact to form what they called a 'reform alliance'.
With the candidacy of the four leaders - all convicted and serving sentences on questionable charges in serious doubt, the united opposition had announced plans to nominate a single candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
