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Maldives: new presidential election date set Maldives: new presidential election date set
(about 1 hour later)
Maldives officials have rescheduled the country's presidential election for 9 November after police prevented the planned vote this past weekend due to a conflict with a supreme court ruling. Maldives officials have rescheduled the country's presidential election for 9 November after police prevented a planned vote last weekend due to a conflict with a supreme court ruling.
While the new schedule may break through a political stalemate and reassure voters in this troubled young democracy, it may not produce a new president before the incumbent's term ends, creating a constitutional vacuum. While the new schedule may break through a political stalemate and reassure voters, it may not produce a new president before the incumbent's term ends, creating a constitutional vacuum in the young fledgling democracy.
If no candidate wins 50% of the 9 November vote, a runoff would be held on 16 November, according to the schedule Ahmed Fayaz, the vice elections commissioner, announced to reporters on Monday.If no candidate wins 50% of the 9 November vote, a runoff would be held on 16 November, according to the schedule Ahmed Fayaz, the vice elections commissioner, announced to reporters on Monday.
The constitution requires a president to be elected by 11 November, when the term of the current president, Mohamed Waheed Hassan, ends.The constitution requires a president to be elected by 11 November, when the term of the current president, Mohamed Waheed Hassan, ends.
The supreme court had annulled the results of a 7 September election, finding that the voters' registry had made-up names and those of dead people. A fresh vote had been set for Saturday, but police stopped it because the Elections Commission failed to obtain approval for the voting registry from all the candidates as required by the high court. The supreme court had annulled the results of a 7 September election, finding that the voters' registry had made-up names and those of dead people. A fresh vote had been set for Saturday, but police stopped it because the elections commission failed to obtain approval for the voting registry from all the candidates as required by the high court.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who led the annulled election with more than 45% of the vote, has accused Hassan of scheming to delay the election in order to hold on to power. Nasheed has demanded that Hassan resign and hand over power to the speaker of parliament to oversee a new election. Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who led the annulled election with more than 45% of the vote, has accused Hassan of scheming to delay the election in order to hold on to power. Nasheed has demanded that Hassan resign and hand over power to the speaker of parliament to oversee a new election.
Hassan has said that he does not intend staying in office beyond his term, but rejected calls to resign before that. Hassan has said he does not intend staying in office beyond his term, but rejected calls to resign before that.
He withdrew from the new vote after losing badly in the 7 September election.He withdrew from the new vote after losing badly in the 7 September election.
Nasheed's rivals at the election will be Yaamin Abdul Gayoom, brother of Maldives' longtime autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and tourist resort owner Qasim Ibrahim. Nasheed's election rivals will be Yaamin Abdul Gayoom, brother of Maldives' longtime autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and tourist resort owner Qasim Ibrahim.
Maldives, known as a luxurious vacation destination, has seen much upheaval in the five years it has been a democracy.Maldives, known as a luxurious vacation destination, has seen much upheaval in the five years it has been a democracy.
Nasheed, who was elected president in the country's first multiparty election in 2008 and defeated Gayoom's 30-year autocratic rule, resigned last year after weeks of public protest over his order to arrest a senior judge he perceived to be corrupt and partial.Nasheed, who was elected president in the country's first multiparty election in 2008 and defeated Gayoom's 30-year autocratic rule, resigned last year after weeks of public protest over his order to arrest a senior judge he perceived to be corrupt and partial.
A local commission has dismissed his claim that he was ousted by a coup, but the country has since been politically polarised.A local commission has dismissed his claim that he was ousted by a coup, but the country has since been politically polarised.
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