Defence Minister to file motion blocking soldiers from voting

Minister of Defence and National Security, Adam Shareef has said that he plans to submit an amendment to the Armed Forces Act, disallowing servicemen and women, from voting in any elections.

The Minister made the statement at a ceremony held on Tuesday night, which was aired live by the state broadcaster.

The Minister noted that military officers must not be allowed to influence the public, adding that he intended to submit a motion to the parliament, to abolish Article 20 of the Armed Forces Act that allows officers to partake in elections.

Article 20 of the Armed Forced Act states that "the right vote accorded to every citizen of the Republic of Maldives by the constitution shall be a right for every servicemen of the Armed forces."

While the Minister is to submit the motion to parliament, President Abdulla Yameen is yet to fulfil his vow to officers at Maldives Police Service (MPS); to increase their allowances.

As the raise is yet to come into effect, some critics claim that the delay "is because then the allowance of military officers must be raised as well."

The closest election is the Local Council Election, which is now scheduled for April 15. It was initially scheduled for January 15, but was postponed by two months after the Civil Court ordered the Elections Commission to do so. The ruling came after President Yameen's faction of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) filed a case seeking to delay the elections, claiming that it was unable to prepare due to internal conflicts.

PPM has been divided into two factions since June 2016, as President Yameen and his half-brother and PPM leader, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom continue to be involved in a public dispute over party leadership.