Former chief justice Didi says the proposed constitutional changes are an attempt by an opposition faction to gain power through deception.

Former Chief Justice Dr Ahmed Abdullah Didi on Monday accused an opposition faction of attempting to return to power through deception under the banner of “great change” and proposed constitutional amendments.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed and former MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail have proposed major changes to the Constitution.

In a post on X on Monday, Didi said the opposition faction is seeking power in a different form, just as the current government is attempting to control state powers and institutions and use the Constitution as a tool to remain in power.

He alleged that the most significant element in the proposals is a shift towards a parliamentary system of government.

“ބޮޑުބަދަލު” މި ސުރުޚީގެ ދަށުން ގެނަސްފައިވާ ، އަރިމަތީ ދެ ސުރުޚީގެ ދަށުގައި ޤާނޫނުއަސާސީއަށް ގެންނަން ހުށަހަޅާ ބަދަލުގެ ގޮތުގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައިވާ ކަންކަމަށް ބެލުމުން އެނގެނީ ، މި ފެނިގެންދަނީ އަނެއްކާވެސް މިހާރުގެ ސަރުކާރުން ވެރިކަމުގެ ބާރުތަކާއި ދައުލަތުގެ މުއައްސަސާތައް… pic.twitter.com/3FRbP9x6D4

— Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi (@AABDULLADIDI) April 20, 2026

“This shows the current government has once again wielded the Constitution as a tool to control state powers and institutions and remain in office, and that an opposition faction is now attempting, in a similarly covert way, to use it to gain power,” he wrote.

He said that if the people wish to make such a major change to the Constitution, it must be done through a Constituent Assembly elected by the public.

He added that such changes should not be made through amendments to the current Constitution. Didi said it is important to draft a new constitution that represents the entire Maldivian Ummah after wide debate in a parliament.

He said major changes should not be rushed and accused the move of being an attempt to bring state powers under the control of certain individuals.

Nasheed and Fayyaz jointly held a press conference on Sunday titled “Great Change” (Bodu Badhalu) and proposed major changes to the Constitution, the system of government, the Parliament and the economy.

Fayyaz and Nasheed proposed amendments to the Constitution, including separating the roles of the supreme head of state and the head of government. The purpose, they said, is to ensure the head of government is accountable to Parliament and the head of state remains politically neutral and protects the national interest and the Constitution.

Fayyaz said on Sunday that the proposal is not an attempt to introduce a parliamentary system but a mixed system.

They also proposed establishing an oversight commission to monitor independent institutions and introducing a system to remove judges through a public vote. The proposals include maintaining the number of MPs, increasing opportunities for women, and giving the public the power to remove members.