The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

EC 'will not accept' party congresses with involvement of law offenders

Shaina Abdulla
05 June 2018, MVT 21:13
R to L: Former president Mohamed Nasheed and Jumhoory Party leader Qasim Ibrahim
Shaina Abdulla
05 June 2018, MVT 21:13

Elections Commission (EC) has stated that the commission would not accept any political party congresses that involve the participation of law offenders.

According to the Political Parties Act, law offenders are barred from joining any activities apart from membership in the party.

Speaking on a local TV station show, EC member Ahmed Akram urged all parties to refrain from involving any offenders of the law in their party congresses, stating that such congresses will not be accepted by the electoral watchdog.

Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had earlier notified its members that the party's special congress will take place on June 29 and 30.

The objective of a party's national congress is primarily to hold discussions between party members, as well as to agree upon a party mandate for the next five years.

Although MDP's special congress is scheduled to be held late June, the party has already held its presidential primary last week.

Despite warnings from the EC and court orders to cease the voting, the sole candidate in MDP's primary, former President Mohamed Nasheed, won with 43,922 votes in favour.

The self-exiled former president is currently convicted on terrorism charges to 13-years, which renders him ineligible to contest for president according to the Constitution.

Jumhoory Party (JP) has also announced dates for their party congress. However, JP leader Qasim Ibrahim is currently under political asylum in Germany after being convicted to three years over bribery charges.

MORE ON NEWS