Hithadhoo Central MP Ibrahim Mohamed Didi has stated that President-Elect Mohamed Ibrahim Solih has decided to conclude his presidential term on November 11th, despite his presidential inauguration being held on November 17th.
According to the precedents by former presidents of Maldives after the 2008 Constitution, the presidential term begins on November 11.
However, the government has stated that President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s presidential term will conclude on November 17 as the outgoing president took his oath of office on November 17th, 2013. This has created heated debate in the political arena and on the parliament floor.
The parliament, on Sunday, passed to hold President-Elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's oath-taking ceremony on November 17. All his predecessors, except for the President Yameen, were sworn in on November 11th.
According to a statement given to local news media ‘Mihaaru’, Didi stated that President-Elect wishes to maintain the tradition of holding presidential inaugurations on November 11th and thus will end his term on November 11, 2023.
Additionally, the former Brigadier General stated that Solih had revealed his intention to end his term on November 11 during an unofficial discussion.
Solih had earlier stated that he does not wish to see his oath-taking possibly be questioned in the future at the Supreme Court. “I do not wish to give the opportunity to claim at any point in time that the oath taking of this new presidential term went against the constitution.”
The President-Elect earlier stated that he did not wish to take the oath of office on November 11, in order to ensure no allegations can deem his oath-taking unconstitutional.
Since Ibrahim Nasir, the first president of the second republic, Ibrahim Nasir, swore in on November 11, 1968, the day is celebrated as ‘Republic Day’ and is deemed a public holiday.
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