Referendum to choose Government System on 18th August

Male' - After more than a year of passing to hold a referendum to choose the system of government by the Special Majlis, a date has finally been set yesterday. The referendum is to be held on 18th August, election commissioner KD Manik announced today. A total of 125,000 people will be eligible to vote in this referendum as the voting age has been lowered to 18 now. People will vote on whether to have a Presidential System or Parliamentary System. Dhivehi Rundinge Party (DRP), of which the Maldives Dictator is the self declared leader, is campaigning to promote the Presidential System whilst the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is supporting Parliamentary System. According to reports, votes will be counted in the islands and the provisional results will be announced the same evening. Observers from SAARC, EU, Commonwealth and Maldives Human Rights Commission have been invited to observe the referendum, reports say.