ECM Requests Time for Governance System Change Vote, MPs Agree
Photo: Peoples Majlis
The Election Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has formally requested additional time to conduct the governance system change vote, scheduled before the end of this month, with the majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) voicing their agreement with this request.
އިންތިޚާބުތަކާ ބެހޭ ޢާންމު ޤާނޫނުގައިވާ ގޮތުން، އިންތިޚާބެއް ބޭއްވުމަށްޓަކައި މަދުވެގެން 45 ދުވަސް ބޭނުންވޭ. އެއީ، އިންތިޚާބަށް އިޢުލާން ކުރުމާއި، ރަޖިސްޓަރީ ޢާންމުކޮށް ޝަކުވާ އަށް ހުށަހެޅުމާއި، ރީ-ރަޖިސްޓްރޭޝަނަށް ހުޅުވާލުމާއި، އޮފިޝަލުން ތަމްރީން ކުރުމާއި، ކެމްޕެއިން ކުރުމާއި…
— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) October 3, 2023advertisement
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The governance system change vote resolution, which has been passed by the parliament and subsequently sent to the ECM, is at the center of this deliberation as ECM has responded with a letter to the parliamentary office, seeking clarification on the specific questions that the resolution should pose to the electorate.
In their letter, the ECM cited the necessity for a more extensive awareness campaign, rule-making, and budget allocation before proceeding with the vote.
“…Given the estimated time frame for all these matters, the earliest date for the polling will be communicated to your office at a later date,” stated the ECM in the letter presented in Parliament today.
In response to the ECM’s request, Hassan Latheef, MP for Henveiru West, raised concerns about ECM’s ability to provide information about the two government systems within the current timeline. He emphasised the importance of careful consideration and information dissemination, suggesting a rescheduling of the vote.
Eva Abdullah, Vice-President of Parliament and MP for Galolhu North, stressed the collective responsibility of the parliament, political parties, and the media in providing complete information to the public regarding the proposed change in the government system.
She also noted the need for time for the two major parties in the Maldives to engage in discussions after the presidential election.
MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and MP for Hithadhoo North, Mohamed Aslam, expressed reservations about the timing of the resolution and highlighted that the resolution lacked essential details, as pointed out by ECM, due to insufficient consultation.
Aslam proposed that ECM’s letter be subjected to discussion within a standing committee of the parliament. He emphasised that the issue of changing the government system should be discussed among political parties.
