The President can campaign: Elections

The Elections Commission has said that as every Maldivian citizen has the right to campaign during elections, the President also has the legal entitlement to campaign.

Speaking at a ceremony held today at the Elections Commission to announce the by-election results for Sh. Atoll Council’s Milandhoo section and Aa. Mathiveri Council, President of the Commission Fuad Thaufeeq said that all complaints regarding the by-elections held last Saturday were received from PPM. He said that one complaint was that President Nasheed was involved in the campaigns, and that the Commission does not see this as a problem.

“Any campaign which is allowed during a certain period of time is not a problem. It is the Commission’s view that just as every Maldivian has the right to campaign, so does the President,” Fuad said.

He said that complaints submitted by PPM accused the President of using state property to campaign during the elections, and that this is not an issue which can be dealt with by the Commission. He also said that this case has now been passed to ACC by PPM, and that ACC will look into it.

The final results of the two by-elections announced today, did not differ from the preliminary results.

MDP members Firag Ibrahim of Pearls, Sh. Milandhoo and Abdulla Aathif of Seaside of the same island were elected for the Sh. Atoll Council’s Milandhoo section.

The by-elections held due to the resignation of DRP member of Mathiveri Council, was also won by MDP member Ismail Athif of Nafuwa, Mathiveri.