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Opposition files complaint and raises concern over EC team residing at ruling party candidate’s campaign office.

MNN

Published

2 years ago

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Opposition Progressive Congress Coalition has filed several complaints after it was found that the Election’s Commission team was residing at the ruling party candidate’s campaign office in the Komandoo constituency by-election.

Controversy was stirred last night after the team from the Election’s Commission was found at a late-night meeting with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s brother-in-law MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain at the campaign office of the ruling party. The Election’s officials were also residing at a guesthouse which is also serving as the campaign office for the ruling party candidate.

This comes just a day after a police case was filed against MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain, who has been accused of offering bribes to influence the electoral process. However, the opposition coalition remains unconvinced of a free investigation into the matter as the police is led by MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s brother-in-law, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed.

Speaking to MNN, opposition PNC Deputy leader Ibrahim Shujau stated that the opposition party had filed cases at all relevant institutions but there is little hope of a legitimate inquiry into the violations of election laws. “We have filed cases at all relevant institutions, but there is little hope of them launching a legitimate inquiry into the cases. The ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) is vacant, there’s nobody to investigate their wrongdoings”.

In the ensuing unrest government political appointee Shammoon Jaleel was spotted approaching the opposition aligned Channel 13 cameraman and ordering him to cut off the live feed of the Election’s Commission member’s meeting with MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain at ruling party’s campaign office.

While nobody was arrested, the situation has led to a rise in concern over the current administration’s direct influence over the electoral process. Several high-profile development projects including a major reclamation project was announced and is currently being implemented for the constituency. The project was not scheduled or included in the state budget when it was abruptly announced during the campaign trail.

Opposition PPM deputy-leader MP Ahmed Shiyam stated that the influence on the electoral process was not only from the executive branch but rather form the whole government itself. He noted that even the judiciary had aided the ruling party in it’s campaign by rescheduling the youth minister’s corruption cases at the Criminal Court of Maldives citing COVID-19, but proceeded on with the case involving the opposition leader President Abdulla Yameen.

The Naifaru constituency MP Ahmed Shiyam further stated that “Even the legislative branch is aiding the current administration in influencing the election. They are openly using state resources for their campaign. But there is no room for any inquiry into any of this as they have hijacked the whole system in their favor,”.  He also commented on the leaked audios of senior officials form FENAKA Corporation blackmailing its staff, stating that if they vote for the opposition candidate, they would lose their employment.

“What we are seeing today is the result of serious democratic backsliding at the hands of President Solih. They are openly influencing the election. But we are confident in our numbers, but we remain concerned on the electoral process and the influence the current administration has on this election” stated opposition deputy leader MP Ahmed Shiyam.

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Nasheed to form new party

FI

Published

12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

FI

Published

12 months ago

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17/05/2023

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Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

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The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

FI

Published

1 year ago

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15/01/2023

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The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.

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