MALE, 23 August 2021, (TON): Spokesperson of the President’s Office Mabrook Azeez has stated that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih welcomes the effort to inquire about the public’s opinion regarding the governance system in the Maldives, in reference to the petition started calling for a constitutional referendum to switch from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.

With Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Leader Mohamed Nasheed spearheading, a group of MDP members began collecting signatures for a petition which calls for a constitutional referendum to switch from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.

When asked regarding President Solih’s view on the matter by media, Spokesperson Mabrook had stated that the President’s view on the parliamentary system has still not changed.

Mabrook had said “it is not such a big deal to inquire whether this is something that the public wants. Whether this is a public concern. Prior to this, President Solih has stated that this is the only way that the governing system can be changed. The petition was started in order to find out whether the public really wants it. So, the petition is welcomed.”

Noting that President Solih had previously stated that the governance system can only be changed through a constitutional referendum and his view has not changed.

Mabrooq also stressed that the President’s only concern right now is to fulfill the electoral pledges made by him.