Military officers must be able to vote: Ex-President Nasheed

Military officers "must be able to vote," says the leader of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former President Mohamed Nasheed.

His statement comes hours after the Minister of Defence and National Security (MNDF), Adam Shareef announced the decision to propose an amendment to Article 20 of the Armed Forces Act, abolishing the voting rights for the armed forces.

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."

In a tweet sent out on Wednesday afternoon, former President Nasheed noted that the armed forces "play a major role in building the country."

"They ensure the safety and protection of the people," said Nasheed, adding that "they must be able to vote."

Claiming that military officers must not be allowed to influence the public Minister Shareef had, at an event held on Tuesday night, revealed the decision to submit a motion to parliament.

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.