Elections Commission (EC) has stated that unless the President ratifies the bill sent by the Parliament, the parliamentary elections will be held on March 17 as scheduled.
Elections Commission (EC) has stated that unless the President ratifies the bill sent by the Parliament, the parliamentary elections will be held on March 17 as scheduled.
EC Vice President Ismail Habeeb said to Mihaaru that a bill becomes an Act or law only once ratified by the President, as is clearly stated in the Constitution. He said that as this remains the case, the commission will continue to abide by the Constitution and laws as it is mandated to.
"The Elections Commission must abide by laws, not bills. This is a different circumstance. We will answer to any questions put to us by the parliament under these circumstances," Habeeb said.
Habeeb stated that as things remain now, the parliamentary elections will be held on March 17 as scheduled. However, if the bill is ratified whether it be today or tomorrow, the EC will immediately abide by that law.
He further confirmed that nearly all preparations have been completed for the elections to be held next month. Currently, work is proceeding on publishing the voters list and printing ballot papers.
"Around the middle of next week, trainings in the atolls will also be completed. Like this, everything except conducting the election itself is reaching completion," he shared.
Parliament has sent a letter to the Elections Commission, where the Commission is summoned to attend a meeting of the Committee on Independent Institutions next Monday and share their decisions on how they will proceed regarding the Parliament's second vote passing the bill with amendments to the General Elections Act prohibiting the holding of elections within the month of Ramadan.
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