Former president Maumoon calls on EC to postpone election

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has called to postpone the local council elections.

Maumoon, who heads the newly formed Maldives Reform Movement made the call in a tweet today.

The tweet called on the Elections Commission to postpone the election as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 disease. Six cases of the virus have been identified in the Maldives so far.

In keeping with the stringent measures in force to protect our people from the threat of #COVID2019 I would like to urge the government to delay local council elections to a later date. @ibusolih @ElectionsMv @MRM_Office

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) March 10, 2020

Elections Commission senior officials have previously stated that discussions to postpone the election would be held based on the situation. Governing coalition member Jumhooree Party and opposition coalition PPM and PNC have also suspended campaigns for the elections.

The governing coalition’s main party, MDP which is also the largest political party in the country, has, however, recommenced its campaigns for the election. MDP stated that the campaigns would not involve any activity that might help spread the disease. The campaigns would also consist of awareness messages regarding the virus.