Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid has said that in a republic, all state powers originate from the people, and remain with the people.
Shahid said this in a statement issued by him on the occasion of the country’s 45th Republic Day.
He said that for the first time in history, the Maldives does not have an elected president on Republic Day.
He said that as we welcome a new presidential term today, he is deeply concerned that the country has failed to have an elected president as required by the constitution.
He called on all Maldivians to work towards protecting their rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, establishing the rule of law, and defending and sustaining the powers of the state.