President Yameen's government has lost legitimacy: Ex-President Nasheed

President Abdulla Yameen's government has lost legitimacy, says former President and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed.

The exiled former President made the statement while speaking via video call at a gathering held by the joint opposition on Monday night, calling to defend and protect the Constitution, which was adopted in 2008.

Noting that President Yameen has lost his coalition partners, Nasheed emphasized that, according to the 2012 Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI) report, losing the support of the coalition that brought President Yameen to power makes his government illegitimate.

While President Yameen has said that the Maldives Constitution "has been designed for a deadlock," former President Nasheed said that "autocrats will describe the Constitution as a nuisance".

However, Nasheed added that he is "not saying that the Constitution does not need revising."

"It needs to be amended," he said.

The former President ended his speech by reiterating that the opposition will remain steadfast in their work, and that the nation "will move forward".

"Maldives has experienced a lot. Suffered a lot. Has learned a lot. God willing, this nation will move forward, we are going forward. Hail the Maldives," said President Nasheed.

The former President was sentenced to 13-years imprisonment on March 13, 2015. He has been living in exile since January 2016, after being granted permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention. UK had decided to grant him political asylum.