Maldives is a trash island.
Everyone just floated to these islands in the middle of the Australian Ocean, brought by the currents of 0.27. The colonizers, the vacationers, the dead bodies.
We're at rock bottom. We've at war with practically everyone. And whenever we lose the battle, we need to dig ourselves out of a 29k hole. We're doing a failed state speedrun.
But a failed state would not be the worst place to be.
The worst place would be as someone else's puppet.
I don't think think the colonizers care so much whether Maldives is owned by them. They care more that we're not in the hands of the enemy. As long as that happens, then most of us are happy?
The people of Maldives will keep on declaring civil war to end colonization. Democracy would be a temporary solution as long as one party.
Hence, I propose an elective monarchy.
The President acts as Monarch. The Vice President serves as the primary minister, with all executive powers except the authority to appoint or replace the leadership.
The Monarch does not need to govern. The Monarch needs to reign.
Should the Monarch's interest not align with the locals, we replace them, native or not.
Naturally, the position must be well compensated. A poorly paid monarch is susceptible to bribes.
It's not an efficient form of government, but a floating plastic bag can do better than a colonist.
Dignity on the the throne. Efficiency in the cabinet.