The tiny Indian Ocean archipelago Maldives held a referendum on
Saturday to decide whether it should follow a United States-style
presidential form or a Britain-style parliamentary system in
future.
Chief government spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef told Xinhua
by telephone from the Maldivian capital of Male that about
193,000voters cast their votes in the referendum which lasted 12
hours from 7:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) to 7: 00 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Shareef said the turnout was high and the result is expected
tobe announced early Sunday.
The spokesman said he expected that Maldivian President Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom's party, the DRP (Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party) will win
the referendum.
Analysts say the referendum is a trial of strength between the
DRP and the main opposition MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) led by
its chairman Mohamed Nasheed and its president Mohamed
Munavaar.
The DRP favors the presidential form, saying it guarantees
maximum stability in a small country like Maldives and the form
makes it possible for the people to elect directly their leader in
the elections.
The party also said it could provide improved living standards
and service to the people in this chain of 1,192 islands strung
across the equator.
On the other hand, the MDP said a parliamentary system ensures
maximum participation of the people in the overall administration
of the government and the affairs of the country.
It said the parliamentary system will ensure a fair distribution
of wealth of the country.
Home to around 300,000 Sunni Muslims, the Maldives has an
appointed body the Majlis which can comment on the legislation.
Diplomats also said Gayoom is likely to win the referendum as
most Maldivians appeared unwilling to embrace radical change in the
nation which enjoys South Asia's highest per capita income of more
than 2,300 dollars.
Political parties were allowed in the Maldives for the first
time in June 2005 as part of the reforms sponsored by President
Gayoom who was first elected in 1978 and is currently the
longest-serving head of state in Asia.
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(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2007)
