MDP deputy leader vows to have new EC appointed

Ali Niyaz, opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s deputy leader has pledged to hold the sitting Elections Commission (EC) accountable, and vowed to vote only after he sees the commission replaced.

At a campaign rally on Friday night in Naifaru island of Lhaviyani atoll, Niyaz said that the inter-party agreement, signed the same night in the capital, has galvanized the opposition’s efforts.

Niyaz said that the commission’s members have proven their ‘rubber-stamp-status’ by continually delaying the local council elections.

"They have delayed the elections again - this time because of the flu? Even the schools have reopened and we have not even entered April yet" he said.

He further added that the no-confidence motion against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh would be integral to seeing the commission held accountable.

The motion was filed on 7th March, with 26 signatures from MPs aligned with every political party, including the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, and an independent member.

The six-point motion accuses Maseeh of ‘refusing to ensure’ equality in parliament, disregarding the rule of law, disrespecting the system of checks and balances, disregard for procedure, and ‘subverting’ democracy.

While the constitution states that only the President can appoint members to the commission, it also stipulates that the parliament can investigate cases against sitting members, who will be removed if parliament committees deem them unfit.