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Maldives
readies for Presidential poll with new Constitution
By Poornima Ravishan Wijemanne
The Maldives is keen on holding free, fair
and transparent multi party Presidential polls, a top Minister
from the Gayoom’s Government said in Colombo yesterday.
“Maldives is keen on holding free, fair and transparent
elections,” said Mohamed Anil, Commissioner of Legal
Reform of Maldives, speaking about the latest developments
in the Maldivian elections at a briefing organised by the
Maldivian High Commission.
Maldives is looking forward for its first multi-party presidential
elections before October10, this year.
Though the country abolished its sultanate and became a republic
in 1968, its Constitution was not subjected to much structural
changes during the process. Under the present Constitution,
multi-party presidential elections are not allowed; therefore,
the Maldivian Government has to draft a new Constitution that
shall endorse multi-party presidential elections.
“The drafting of the new Constitution is almost over,
except for the adoption of the chapter on interpretation of
words and phrases and the scrutinising of the revised draft
Constitution or any contradiction or inconsistency among the
adopted provisions,” said Anil.
The present cabinet and President are to remain in power till
the new President is sworn in on November 11, when the present
Constitution shall become invalid. The current Parliament
will be replaced by a one elected in the Parliamentary elections
– scheduled to be held before March 31, 2009 – which
shall have its first sitting before May 1, 2009. The city,
island and atoll elections are scheduled to be held before
July 1, 2009.
An eight-member Interim Judicial Service Commission is to
be created within 30 days of the introduction of the new Constitution
that shall appoint a five-member Interim Supreme Court within
45 days of the new Constitution’s start of function.
“The Interim Judicial Service Commission shall comprise
a nominee of the President, member of Parliament, the Speaker
of Parliament, member of the lawyers’ society, citizen
elected by Parliament and representative each from the high
and lower courts,” said Anil.
He also said that the new Constitution shall include a much
revised and more comprehensive provision of fundamental rights.
The briefing was also attended by Ali Hussain Didi, the Maldivian
High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.
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