View source for 1952 Maldivian constitutional referendum

{{Politics of Maldives}}
A constitutional referendum was held in the [[Maldives]] on 17 and 18 April 1952. The new constitution would convert the country from a monarchy to a republic.

==Background==
After the death of Sultan [[Abdul Majeed Didi]] on 21 February 1952, the members of the country's parliament chose [[Mohamed Amin Didi]] to be the next Sultan. However, he stated that "for the sake of the people of Maldives I would not accept the crown and the throne".<ref>{{Cite web |title=President Al Ameer Mohamed Amin |url=https://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/PO/FormerPresident/7 |access-date=21 April 2024 |website=[[The President's Office]]}}</ref>

The [[People's Majlis]] voted on 13 April to form a commission with Amin Didi as its chairman to determine the country's future governance structure. Other members included Famuladeyri Kaleygefan, [[Chief Justice of the Maldives|Chief Justice]] [[Abdullah Jalaludeen]], Majlis Speaker [[Malim Moosa Mafaiy Kilegefan]], Deputy Vazirul-Auzam [[Ibrahim Mohamed Didi]], [[Kolhumadulu Atoll]] MP [[Ibrahim Shihab]], [[Galolhu]] MP [[Bucha Hassan Kaleygefan]] and [[Faadhippolhu Atoll]] chief [[Kaannaa Kaleygefan]].<ref name="MC">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110221010323/http://www.maldivesculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=42 Ameen's Republic] Maldives Culture</ref> On 16 April, the People's Majlis affirmed the commission's decision to form a republic, and to hold a referendum on a new constitution over the following two days. However, the referendum would only be held in [[Malé]].<ref name=MC/>

==Results==
The results of the referendum were announced at 16:00 on 18 April.<ref name=MC/> A large majority had voted in favour, and the new constitution came into force on 1 January 1953. Didi became the country's first [[President of the Maldives|President]] after winning almost 96% of the vote in [[1952 Maldivian presidential election|an election]].<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Amir |first=Hassan |title=Islamism and Radicalism in the Maldives |date=December 2011 |access-date=21 April 2024 |degree= |publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]] |url=https://calhoun.nps.edu/bitstream/handle/10945/10724/11Dec_Amir.pdf?sequence=1}}</ref> However, he was overthrown on 21 August that year. Following [[1953 Maldivian constitutional referendum|a referendum]] in the same month, the country reverted to monarchy status on 7 March 1954,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Constitution |url=http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/pages/default.php?ZQE5XDheYQBlEGIOYxc1BTQFZVA= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511101340/http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/pages/default.php?ZQE5XDheYQBlEGIOYxc1BTQFZVA= |archive-date=11 May 2008 |website=[[The President's Office]]}}</ref> with [[Muhammad Fareed Didi]] as sultan.

In 1968 a [[1968 Maldivian constitutional referendum|third referendum]] on the issue was held, resulting in the country becoming a republic for the second time.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Maldivian elections}}
{{Maldives topics}}

[[Category:1952 referendums|Maldives]]
[[Category:1952 in the Maldives|Constitutional]]
[[Category:Referendums in the Maldives]]
[[Category:Constitutional referendums]]
[[Category:Monarchy referendums]]
[[Category:April 1952 events in Asia|Maldives]]
[[Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results]]