Maldives will be holding its first ever multi-party presidential elections on Saturday 4 October, new Election Commissioner Mohamed Ibrahim has announced at a news conference in Male' today. Mohamed Ibrahim who resigned from the post of Deputy Minister of Construction to become a member of the transitional election commission, said the commission is hoping to invite prospective candidates for the upcoming presidential election to file their candidatures next week and he hopes to hold the election on 4 October. Election Commissioner elaborated there are three important tasks to be completed before the date is finally fixed, that is enacting law on elections and law on presidential election which are under consideration by the People's Majlis. The Supreme Court must also be appointed during this process. If these three tasks can be completed next week, then presidential elections will be held on 4 October before the deadline set in the Constitution, Mohamed Ibrahim said.
According to Election Commissioner, the run off election can be also held before the targeted date if these laws are passed and Supreme Court appointed without delay. The Commission is in the process of finalising other matters including the voters registry and regulation concerning the presidential election. There are more than 209,000 eligible voters and Election Commission has received more than 700 corrections to the register. This is the first time a large number of young Maldivians between 18 and 21 can vote in the election as provided in the new Constitution. This will represent a very large number of voters and together with the age group of 35 years most of whom are known to be supporting change, young voters are likely to make a difference in the final results.
Elections Commission has said candidates will get 10 days for campaigning before the date of election. Some political parties have expressed their doubts about holding a free and fair election if the election were to be held before 10 October. Social Liberal Party, SLP presidential candidate Male' member Ibrahim Ismail, Ibra has repeatedly raised this concern. Ibra has also blasted main opposition MDP for taking side with government party DRP by supporting an election commission with a majority of DRP loyal members. Ibra said the purpose and objectives of the whole reform is now lost and it is a shame that all the sacrifice of the reformists to have free and fair elections and embrace real change has become meaningless.
However, MDP has rejected this allegation and said the election commission will prove to be democratic and impartial and there is every confidence of holding fair and free elections. MDP also added it is not MDP which has taken DRP's side, but DRP which has come to their side in order to get the election commission appointed in time and in a far manner. According to critics the transitional election Commission has 5 members of which there are 3 members loyal to DRP and one from MDP and fifth member from IDP. In the vote taken by People's Majlis on Thursday to ellect 5 members for the election commission, members of DRP, MDP and PA voted in support 5 members proposed by Baa member DRP Deputy leader and running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali as the transitional election commission while JP voted against it.MDP also defended their vote by saying the election commission comprise of 2 members for DRP 2 members for MDP and 1 for JP.
The history making presidential election is going to take place during the Eid holidays just after the Holy month of Ramazan fasting. There are several concerns about not having enough time for campaigning, especially during the month of Ramazan. But most of the presidential candidates have been campaigning for the past few months and most candidates appear to be comfortable about the time they availed for campaigning. Presidential hopefuls are busy with their campaign even during the fasting month though it is a special time when people are preoccupied with many religious observances.
So far incumbent DRP leader President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who has served 6 terms as President, Mohamed Nasheed, Anni from MDP, independent former Attorney General Dr. Hassan Saeed, former Finance Minister millionaire Gasim Ibrahim from JP, Umar Naseed from IDP and independent Idhham Muizzu has announced they will contest in the election. According to analysts it is going to be a very tough election which might reveal surprising results.
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