Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) warned on Tuesday that measures will be taken against members who, after failing the party primaries, choose to run as independent candidates in the upcoming April 6 parliamentary elections.
After a meeting with the Elections Commission (EC) about the parliamentary elections, MDP Chairperson Hassan Latheef said the party's statutes mandate its members to support the candidates selected to contest in the elections.
Latheef elaborated that when a member was officially selected to contest in the elections, there would be no capacity to support a member that decided to run independently.
Latheef, contesting on the MDP party ticket for Henveiru North constituency, stated that measures will be taken against such members after deliberation within the party. He further said that he did not believe there would be any separations amongst MDP due to its primaries.
Moreover, Hassan claimed that MDP will continue with the outcomes of the primaries through observation of complaints in relation to the primaries, and implementing necessary measures.
He further stated that while many factors are linked to the primaries, holding them would not provide solutions without addressing these issues.
MDP's warning came after the Supreme Court on Monday annulled the clause in the Political Parties Act which barred candidates, who failed in party primaries, from contesting in the parliamentary elections.
MDP's leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed expressed hope that none of MDP’s members would run as independent candidates for the elections despite the Supreme Court ruling.
Due to the ruling, the party is concerned that important members may contest in the elections despite having lost the primaries, which could potentially be a challenge for the candidates selected in the primaries.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court ordered EC to open applications for candidates that wish to contest in the parliamentary elections despite conceding party primaries, until March 4 at 1600 hours.
The commission has since complied with the order.
Latheef stated that complaints regarding the Supreme Court changing the dates set by EC was submitted to the commission.
Moreover, Hassan Latheef alleged that in 2013, the Supreme Court played a role in manipulating the records of the elections to “fix” the process in favour of certain individuals, and accused the Supreme Court of the same misconduct.
MDP on Tuesday alleged that the Supreme Court's altering of the election dates was directly targeting MDP. Furthermore, they speculated that the Supreme Court altered dates to politically benefit certain individuals.
The party iterated that it is absolutely necessary to hold elections in accordance with the date set by EC, and that the commission must be empowered in such a manner.
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