EC violates Constitution, fails to hold by-elections within given time period
20 ސެޕްޓެމްބަރު 2017 | ބުދަ 09:22According to the Constitution, "whenever there is a vacancy among the members of the People's Majlis, an election shall be held within sixty days from the date of vacancy"
Elections Commission, Maldives
While the Elections Commission (EC) has called for by-elections in six constituencies, the time period to hold them have expired.
Elections Commission had, on July 18, announced that six lawmakers- Thulusdhoo constituency MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, Maduvvari constituency MP Ahmed Ameeth, Villingilli constituency MP Saud Hussain, Dhihdhoo constituency MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Dhan'gethi constituency MP Ilham Ahmed and Mahchangoalhi-South MP Abdulla Sinan- had lost their parliamentary seats, following a controversial Supreme Court ruling.
The Court had, on July 18, ruled that MPs who leave a party, joins another or is expelled, will no longer be members of the parliament.
According to the ruling, if a parliamentarian loses his/her seat, by-elections are to be held, under Article 78 of the Constitution and Article 5 (b) of the People's Majlis' Rules of Procedure.
According to the Parliament's rules of procedures, EC must officially open up the opportunity to apply, within five days from the date of vacancy, while Article 78 of the Constitution states that "whenever there is a vacancy among the members of the People's Majlis, an election shall be held within sixty days from the date of vacancy". It also notes that a by-election "shall not be held within six months prior to a general election".
However, while it has been 60 days since the Commission announced that the lawmakers had lost their seats, the Commission is yet to even announced the dates for the by-elections, or open up the applications for interested parties.
RaajjeMV was unable to obtain a comment from the Election Commission at the time of publishing.
