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A constitutional referendum was held in the Maldives in 1952. The main question was whether to convert the state from a constitutional monarchy under a Sultan, to a presidential system.
After the death of Sultan Abdul Majeed Didi and his son Prince Hassan Fareed Didi, 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". As a result, a referendum was held on becoming a republic.
The referendum was successful, and Didi became the country's first president on 1 March 1953. However, just over a year later he was overthrown and the country reverted back to monarchy status on 7 March 1954,[1] with Muhammad Fareed Didi as sultan.
In 1968 a second referendum on the issue was held, resulting in the country becoming a republic for the second time.
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