Bill to be completed by 18th February before vote: EC

Elections Commission (EC) has said today that the referendum vote in combining and holding both the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election on the day of the Local Council Election can only be held after the amendments to the Constitution are completed before 18th February.

At the meeting held today by the Committee on Independent Institutions to discuss the bill to amend the Constitution that was submitted on behalf of the government, EC President Mohamed Zahid said that a 45-day window needs to be given to raise awareness before the referendum vote. This is a requirement stated in the Public Referendum Bill.

At the meeting, recommendations were given from the Attorney General's Office, along with opinions from political parties and the EC. The first half of the meeting was attended by members of the EC and the Attorney General's Office.

"The Local Council Election and the referendum vote can only be held after we finish all stages regarding the Referendum Bill before 18th February," said Zahid.

As per Zahid, the EC is ready to hold the Local Council Election and the referendum vote simultaneously. He also said that an estimated MVR 20 million would be spent.

The EC President stated that this sum is needed in order to print paper, for the additional work that officials would have to do or to procure additional officials.

However, Zahid said that if the referendum vote were to be held on a different date, there would be an expenditure between MVR 60 million and MVR 80 million.

"But if both were to be held at the same time, we are looking at an expenditure of MVR 20 million," as was said by Zahid.

Zahid also stated that while MVR 20 million would be enough, this is only true if they would not have to cover other expenses such as chartering planes to transport ballot boxes and ballot papers at the last minute.

As per Zahid, as the combining of both elections would change Maldivian democracy, opportunity needs to be given to raise awareness within the public.

"What I am trying to say is if the Local Council Election and the referendum vote are to be held in tandem, it is important that the amendments to the Constitution from the Parliament and its resolution be expedited by the President or the Parliament, along with it making it possible for us to proceed as soon as possible," said Zahid.

He said that this needs to be done because time is needed to disseminate the relevant information to the public.

Even though South Galolhu MP and MDP member Meekail Ahmed Naseem repeatedly asked whether the 45-day window that is stated in the Public Referendum Bill is enough, Zahid did not answer the question in a straightforward manner.

He went on to say that the EC will abide by the law. And so, as Meekail had requested Zahid to answer his question in his capacity as the President of the EC, the conversation became heated, with an argument bursting forth between Baarah MP and PNC member Ibrahim Shujau and Meekail during the committee meeting.