President-elect Dr. Muizzu to be sworn in at Republic Square

The inauguration ceremony of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has been scheduled to take place at Republic Square on November 17, as announced by the President-elect's office.

Mohamed Firzul, spokesperson for the President-elect's office, said, "The swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Dr. Muizzu and Vice President-elect Hussain Mohamed Latheef is scheduled at Republic Square, if the weather permits."

The preparations and arrangements for the ceremony will be overseen by the Parliament Secretariat.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih expressed his intention for president-elect Dr. Muizzu to be sworn in on November 11, provided there are no legal impediments.

During a press conference on last Monday, president Solih said, "November 11 holds historical significance as a day when transitions in governance have occurred in our country. I wish to emphasize this point once more."

"I have been diligently working towards this goal, and if no legal obstacles arise, the inauguration will indeed take place on November 11," president Solih said.

However, due to legal complexities, the swearing-in could not proceed as planned on November 11.

President Solih had previously said, during a program on Raajje TV in November 2020, that he was actively seeking a legal solution to address the gap caused by the delay in commencing the 2013 presidential term, initially scheduled for November 11, 2020.

Even before assuming office, he had expressed his commitment to compensating for the six days lost from the presidential term, which, according to the initial count, began on November 17. November 11 is celebrated as Republic Day, commemorating the inception of the second republic rule in 1968. Every five years, this date signifies both the republic's anniversary and a year of its governance.

However, former president Abdulla Yameen's term began on November 17, following the Supreme Court's decision to annul the first round of the 2013 presidential election. This decision effectively extended the term of the then-President Mohamed Waheed until new elections were held and a new president was sworn in. Former president Yameen officially assumed office on November 17, 2013.