No chance for jailed ex-pres Nasheed in 2018 pres race, says govt

Maldives government Sunday moved quickly to dismiss the chances of jailed former president Mohamed Nasheed contesting the presidential elections in 2018.

Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had earlier claimed that the Commonwealth's insistence on inclusive elections meant Nasheed had been assured a spot in the presidential race.

After placing Maldives on its formal agenda on Friday, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in a statement stressed on a conducive environment for credible and inclusive elections in 2018.

However, fisheries minister Dr Mohamed Shainee dismissed the opposition's interpretation of the CMAG statement.

"CMAG is asking for equal opportunity to contest in a lawful election. That opportunity is open. But that doesn't mean one can go against the laws governing this nation. CMAG won't ask us to change the laws in order to accommodate an individual candidacy," Shainee who is also the chief government representative in the all party talks told Mihaaru.

CMAG, a watchdog body comprising of eight foreign ministers, had laid out a six-point reform agenda in February, which includes the release of political prisoners and judicial reform.

During the body’s sit-down on Friday, the ministers expressed deep disappointment at the lack of progress in the priority areas.

“… in the absence of substantive progress across the priority areas, the Group would consider its options, including suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth, at its next meeting, in March 2017,” a statement after the sit-down read.

Nasheed’s jailing on a terror charge last year was a key trigger of the current political crisis. He was allowed to leave the country in an internationally brokered deal in January.

According to the constitution, his 13 year jail term for the arbitrary detention and subsequent detention of a sitting judge during his presidency would prevent him from the 2018 presidential elections.

In the aftermath of the judge's arrest, Nasheed who is Maldives' first democratically elected president stepped down in 2012 after weeks of opposition led protests capped off by a police mutiny.