President Gayoom is expected to announce the date he would ratify the new constitution before the end of the month, according to Legal Reform and Information Ministry.
According to the latest update of the ongoing reform process issued last Thursday President Gayoom’s decision to announce the date of ratification comes after having reflected upon the issues identified by the Attorney General and the ministerial committee.
Legal Reform Ministry revealed that the Attorney General’s formal advice is expected to reach the president next week. The report informed that the government was working with the core parliamentarian group to expedite the introduction of the Police Bill, Criminal Procedures Code. According to government if the Bill cannot be introduced before the ratification of the new constitution some of the functions of the government may come to a stand still.
President has declared that the ratification process of the new constitution will be the quickest process of the entire constitutional reform process. Although the president is entitled to 90 days to ratify the new constitution, Legal Reform Minister Mohamed Nasheed has said the President will not take that much time as the government’s ‘ thinking’ was to ratify the constitution at the earliest and to hold free and fair elections under the new constitution.
Minister Nasheed has said that while ratification process is ongoing, government is making preparations to hold the presidential elections before 10 October 2008. Nasheed had said work is underway to form independent institutions and commissions necessary for free and fair elections.
MDP presidential candidate Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) speaking at the recent rally of the National Unity Alliance (Alliance) held at Kalaafaanu School that he will, if necessary, ‘be out on the streets’ in order to get the revised constitution ratified. During his recent visit to India, Anni has accused the government of delay tactics aimed at holding the presidential elections under the current constitution.
Comments