Ali Niyaz, younger brother of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former MP for Hulhumalé constituency, and Saleem, former MP for Hoarafushi constituency, did not vote for the “Big Change” policy as the MDP congress passed the proposal put forward by former party chairperson Fayyaz Ismail.

Both are known supporters of former President Solih.

The policy, seconded by former Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb, passed with 520 votes from the 563 delegates present at the congress.

The policy proposes sweeping changes to the system of governance and the Constitution, the most significant being the separation of the head of state and head of government into two distinct posts. Under the proposal, the President would serve as a non-political head of state appointed jointly by councils and Parliament, while the head of government would be accountable to Parliament.

The policy also includes establishing an oversight commission for independent institutions, allowing Supreme Court justices to be removed through a public vote, and giving citizens the power to recall MPs and the head of state. Other proposals include more frequent referendums, fixing the number of parliamentary seats, increasing opportunities for women in Parliament, and preventing the waste of natural resources.

Fayyaz has previously argued that the current system offers no real way to hold the government accountable, and that when the ruling party controls a parliamentary majority, checks and balances are lost and even the judiciary can be brought under its control.