President of the Maldives facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Maldives |
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Presidential flag
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Presidential seal
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| Executive branch of the Maldivian Government | |
| Style | |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Residence | Muliaage |
| Seat | The President's Office |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of the Maldives |
| Formation |
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| First holder | Mohamed Amin Didi |
| Deputy | Vice President |
| Salary | MVR 120,000/US$7,818 monthly ($93,816 yearly) |
The President of the Republic of Maldives is a very important leader. They are the head of state and head of government for the Republic of Maldives. This means they lead the country and its government. The President is also the commander-in-chief of the Maldives National Defence Force, which is the country's military.
The current president is Mohamed Muizzu. He was chosen in the 2023 election. He won with more than half of the votes. He took over from the previous president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Contents
Understanding the Maldivian Constitution
The constitution is like a rulebook for the country. It explains the rights and duties of all citizens in the Maldives. It also describes how the government of the Maldives is set up. The newest constitution was approved by President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom on 7 August 2008. It replaced an older version from 1998. This current rulebook is officially called the "Constitution of the Maldives, 2008".
A Look at Maldivian Presidential History
The Maldives has had many changes in its government over time. It went from being ruled by sultans to becoming a republic.
Early Constitutions and First Republic
The Maldives got its first written constitution in 1932. This was during the time of Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. It was created with advice from a British governor. Soon after, new constitutions were made in 1934 and later in 1940.
In 1953, the Maldives became a republic for the first time. This meant it had a president instead of a sultan. President Mohamed Ameen Didi introduced a new constitution. But this republic only lasted for eight months. The country then went back to being a sultanate. This change brought another new constitution in 1954. More constitutions followed in 1964 and 1967.
The Second Republic Begins
The Maldives became a republic again on 11 November 1968. This is known as the Second Republic. The new president, Ibrahim Nasir, approved a new constitution. This constitution was updated a few times in the 1970s.
In 1998, President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom brought in another constitution. The government said this was to help people live together peacefully. It also aimed to encourage good actions and respect among everyone.
A special group worked for four years to create a new constitution. This started in 2003 after some public protests. President Gayyoom had promised a new, more modern and democratic system. This new constitution was approved on 7 August 2008.
The 2008 constitution made some big changes. It created independent groups to oversee elections and fight against corruption. It also gave more power to the parliament and less to the president.
Key Parts of the Constitution
The constitution has an introduction and fourteen main sections. It also has three extra parts called schedules. Each section and schedule focuses on a different important topic.
Main Chapters of the Constitution
- Chapter 1 - About the State, its Power, and Citizens
- Chapter 2 - Basic Rights and Freedoms for Everyone
- Chapter 3 - The People's Majlis (Parliament)
- Chapter 4 - The President's Role
- Chapter 5 - The Cabinet of Ministries
- Chapter 6 - The Courts and Justice System
- Chapter 7 - Independent Groups and Offices
- Chapter 8 - How Local Areas are Managed
- Chapter 9 - Security Services (like the military and police)
- Chapter 10 - Government Property and Legal Matters
- Chapter 11 - What Happens in a State of Emergency
- Chapter 12 - How to Change the Constitution
- Chapter 13 - How the Constitution is Used and Understood
- Chapter 14 - Rules for the Transition Period
Important Schedules
- Schedule 1 - Oaths that Officials Take
- Schedule 2 - How the Country is Divided Up
- Schedule 3 - The National Flag
How Elections Work
In the Maldives, people vote for their national leaders. They elect the president and members of the legislature. The president is chosen directly by the people. They serve for five years and can be re-elected once.
The Assembly (also called Majlis) has 93 members. These members are also chosen directly by the people. They serve for five years and each represents a different area.
British Military Presence and Suvadive Movement
In the 1950s, the United Kingdom used an airfield called RAF Gan in the southern Addu Atoll. Many local people worked there. The Maldives allowed Britain to use this base for 100 years. They also got some land for radio stations. This base helped British military flights to places like the Far East.
In 1957, the new prime minister, Ibrahim Nasir, wanted to change this agreement. He wanted a shorter lease and more money. But in 1959, a group in the southern atolls disagreed with Nasir. They benefited from the British presence. This group broke away from the Maldives government. They formed their own independent state called the United Suvadive Republic. Abdullah Afeef was their president.
The British at first showed some support for this new state. But in 1961, Britain signed a treaty with the Maldives government without involving Afeef. After this, the Suvadives faced economic difficulties. In 1962, Nasir sent government forces to stop the movement. A year later, the Suvadive republic ended. Abdullah Afeef went into exile.
Meanwhile, in 1960, the Maldives allowed the UK to keep using the Gan and Hitaddu facilities for 30 years. The UK paid money to help the Maldives' economy. The British base closed in 1976. This was part of Britain's plan to reduce its military presence in other countries.
Maldives Gains Independence
On 26 July 1965, the Maldives became fully independent from the United Kingdom. This was a big step for the country. Even though it was independent, the British government still used the Gan and Hitaddu facilities for a while.
In March 1968, the people of the Maldives voted in a national vote. They decided to end the sultanate and become a republic. The republic was officially declared on 11 November 1968.
An agreement was signed in 1965 to end British control over the Maldives' defense and foreign affairs. This ceremony took place in Sri Lanka. After this, the sultanate continued for three more years. Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi called himself King.
In 1967, parliament members voted on whether to stay a monarchy or become a republic. Most voted for a republic. In 1968, a national vote confirmed this decision. The republic was declared on 11 November 1968. This ended the 853-year-old monarchy. Ibrahim Nasir, the former prime minister, became the first president.
President Ibrahim Nasir's Time in Office
The Second Republic began in November 1968 with Ibrahim Nasir as president. He was chosen by the Majlis (parliament) and then approved by a public vote. He appointed Ahmed Zaki as his prime minister.
In 1973, Nasir was re-elected for a second term. However, in March 1975, Prime Minister Zaki was removed from his position. Some thought Zaki was becoming too popular.
During the 1970s, the Maldives faced economic challenges. The market for their main export, dried fish, struggled. Also, the British closed their airfield on Gan in 1975. This led to a decline in business. President Nasir's time in office ended in 1978 when he left for Singapore.
Nasir is remembered for helping to modernize the Maldives. He opened the country to the rest of the world. He built the first international airport (Malé International Airport, 1966). He also helped the Maldives join the United Nations. He improved the fishing industry and started the tourism industry. These are now very important for the Maldivian economy.
He also brought in a modern school curriculum based on English. He gave women the right to vote in 1964. He introduced television and radio to the country. He also removed a tax on people living on islands outside Malé.
Tourism in the Maldives started to grow in the early 1970s. The first resort, Kurumba Maldives, opened in 1972. In 1977, a census showed about 142,832 people living in the Maldives.
Nasir faced some criticism for his strong leadership style. He also had challenges with the Addu islanders. They had formed their own short-lived government, the United Suvadives Republic.
In 1976, Nasir tried to change the local Thaana script to a Latin alphabet. This was to help with telex machines. However, many people found this change difficult. Officials were happy when the Thaana script was brought back by President Gayoom in 1978.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Era
As Ibrahim Nasir's second term ended, he decided not to run again. In June 1978, the Majlis chose candidates for president. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was chosen as the only candidate. Five months later, he was elected president with a large majority of votes. He was re-elected five more times. His presidency brought a time of stability and economic growth. He focused on developing the poorer islands. In 1978, the Maldives joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Tourism also grew, with over 120,000 visitors by 1985.
During the 1980s, there were some attempts to challenge Maumoon's government. The most serious was in November 1988. About 80 armed people landed in Malé. Their plan did not succeed. The Indian military arrived to help at the request of President Gayoom. Some people died in the fighting. Those involved in the attempt were later tried and sentenced.
Despite these challenges, Maumoon served many presidential terms. He won elections in 1983, 1988, and 1993 with over 90% of the votes. Even though there was no legal opposition, he faced some challenges from business leaders.
Maumoon's time in office also faced some concerns. There were discussions about his leadership style and human rights.
President Mohamed Nasheed's Term
After Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's long presidency, Mohamed Nasheed was elected in the first democratic elections. Nasheed was an activist who had spoken out against the previous government. He won with 54% of the votes. Nasheed famously held the world's first underwater cabinet meeting. This was to highlight the issue of climate change. His presidency faced some political difficulties.
In June 2010, Nasheed's entire cabinet resigned. They said that opposition members in parliament were making it hard for them to do their jobs. In January 2012, Nasheed ordered the arrest of a judge. This led to a major political crisis. Nasheed later resigned. He claimed that the former president and his vice president had planned against him.
President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik's Time
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Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik was Nasheed's vice president. He became president after Nasheed resigned on 7 February 2012. A group was set up to investigate what happened that day. Their report said that the transfer of power was legal. It also stated that Nasheed's resignation was voluntary. This report was supported by international organizations.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's Term
After the 2013 Maldivian presidential election, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom became the new president. He won with 53,099 votes. In 2015, former president Mohamed Nasheed was found guilty of certain charges. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Many people felt this was politically motivated. He later went to the UK and received asylum.
During Yameen's presidency, there were changes in the vice president's role. His first vice president was removed. Then, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor became vice president. He was later removed and charged with treason. In 2016, Abdulla Jihad was appointed as the third vice president.
In 2016, an investigation by Al Jazeera reported on some issues. It talked about islands being leased at low prices without proper bidding. In 2018, Yameen opened the Sinamalé Bridge. This bridge connects Malé, Velana International Airport, and Hulhumalé. It was built with help from the Chinese government. The Maldives also left The Commonwealth during this time.
Yameen's presidency also faced a political crisis. He declared a state of emergency. During this time, he ordered the arrest of his half-brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He also ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice and other political rivals.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's Time
Abdulla Yameen was defeated in the 2018 Maldivian presidential election. His successor was Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu). Solih received 134,705 votes. In 2020, the Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth.
Solih's government focused on using more renewable energy, like solar power. This was to reduce the country's reliance on imported fuels. New hospitals were built and old ones were improved. Some Maldivians were concerned about the government's efforts to address certain issues. Solih announced the Thilamalé Bridge project. This bridge aims to connect Malé, Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. There have been some environmental concerns about this project.
President Mohamed Muizzu's Presidency
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was defeated in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election. Mohamed Muizzu, a politician and engineer, became the new president. He won with 129,159 votes in the second round. Early in 2024, Muizzu's government faced some challenges in its relationship with India. This happened after some deputy ministers made comments about the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This led to some Indians choosing not to visit the Maldives. The deputy ministers were suspended. Later, some ministers from Muizzu's cabinet were not approved by the parliament. Muizzu then re-appointed them.
List of Presidents
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de las Maldivas para niños
- List of Maldivian presidents by age
- President of the Maldives
- Politics of the Maldives
- History of the Maldives
- List of sultans of the Maldives
- List of head of state of the Maldives
- First family of the Maldives
- Prime Minister of the Maldives
- Vice President of the Maldives
- First Lady of the Maldives
- Second Lady of the Maldives
