Nasheed Seeks Meeting with Yameen to Discuss Government System Change

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has expressed his intention to meet with former President Abdullah Yameen to discuss the possibility of transitioning the government to a parliamentary system. 

Nasheed, mentioned his willingness to hold discussions with Yameen, who is currently serving a sentence in Maafushi jail. It is worth noting that meetings with Yameen are currently limited to lawyers and family members, with others requiring special permission from the Correctional Service.

Speaking to supporters of The Democrats, Nasheed highlighted the recurring need for political parties to form alliances due to the absence of a clear majority in the initial round of presidential elections. He emphasised that this practice, though common, does not align with the Constitution and legal framework.

To address this issue, The Democrats, who garnered 15,000 votes in the recent election, have proposed a transition to a parliamentary system, a cause Nasheed has long championed. The party has suggested conducting a vote on this matter on the 25th of the current month, with the aim of governing under a parliamentary system.

The proposal for this system change has been submitted to both the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), and Nasheed expressed his intention to discuss it further with Yameen. He also revealed his request to arrange a meeting with Yameen through Parliament.

In parallel, there have been repeated calls for the MDP to initiate the transition towards a parliamentary system. 

Nasheed urged President Ibrahim Mohmed Solih to consider this path rather than focusing solely on securing victory in a potential second round of elections.