Prominent religious scholar Sheikh Ali Zaid has commended Maldives’ unicameral parliament, the People’s Majlis, decision to delay president-elect Ibrahim Solih’s swearing-in ceremony.

Zaid said that the patience and compromise evident in the decision is surely a ‘step forward’ and that the spirit of making sacrifices to maintain peace and unity in the country is admirable.

“A good decision and a favourable outcome can only be achieved by making compromises when necessary, this is a wise decision”, Zaid said.

At the Majlis deliberations on Sunday, Solih said that he does not wish for anyone to be able to say that he took his oath as president unlawfully.

Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen said that he would hand over office on November 17th, the precise date he took his oath in 2013.

While Maldivian presidents had all been sworn in on Republic Day, Yameen’s swear-in ceremony was delayed along with the electoral disputes ahead of his election.