Deputy FM assures free and fair Presidential poll in Maldives

Rafik Jalaldeen

A free and fair presidential elections in the Maldives will be held before November 10, giving equal opportunities for all parties contesting in the Presidential elections, Maldives Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullah Hameed said.

He was addressing a press briefing at the Maldives High Commission in Colombo yesterday on the Progress of the Reform Agenda and Political Development in Maldives. Hameed said it was a great achievement of the present Government to hold multi party presidential elections outlining many plans and a road map.

"The Government was able to complete a Constitution and pass it overcoming many obstacles and barriers", he said.

The Deputy Foreign Minister said seven party members will be contesting the Presidential Elections in the Maldives. "Seven parties were registered for the Presidential elections and five of them will be nominated to contest the forthcoming presidential elections. It is the first time in the history of Maldives that a multi-party presidential election is to be held, he said.

He assured the election will be free and fair adhering to norms of transparency. Parliamentary elections will also be held before March 31, 2009 and elections for all city, island and councils will be held before July 01, 2009.

"The election will be free and fair as well as transparent. The Government has also invited the UN,EU, Commonwealth and other international institutions to observe the upcoming elections, he said.

The work involved in rewriting the Constitution was completed except for two task; adoption of the chapter on interpretation and phrases and scrutinising the revised constitution for any contradiction of inconsistency among adopted provisions, Maldives Legal Reforms Commissioner Mohamed Anil said.

He said the incumbent President and his Cabinet will remain until the new president is sworn in. The new President should appoint the Cabinet under the relevant provisions of the revised Constitution.

"People's Special Majlis adopted the Transition Chapter containing arrangements and tasks to be undertaken during the transition period between the current and revised Constitutions", Anil added.

Responding to a question on complaints of the opposition with regard to transitional provisions, Anil said that there were no dissatisfaction from the opposition in this regard. There were debates during the discussion but all were cleared. "We have to formulate a Constitution and rectify things as soon as possible", he said.

Anil reiterated that President Gayoom had assured equal opportunity in State own media for all political parties contesting forthcoming Presidential elections. Hameed insisted that there will be religious freedom without permitting extremism.