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No legal grounds to delay elections: EC

Nafaahath Ibrahim
31 March 2019, MVT 13:52
EC President Ahmed Shareef speaking at a press conference. PHOTO: Nishan Ali / Mihaaru
Nafaahath Ibrahim
31 March 2019, MVT 13:52

Elections Commission (EC) on Sunday declared that there are no grounds to postpone voting despite recent reports of some entities working to delay the parliamentary elections slated for April 6.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Election Center, President of EC Ahmed Shareef stated that there are no legal grounds to postpone the voting. He added that the commission is well prepared should any party or individual attempt to delay the elections through court.

He revealed that the commission received reports of certain parties who are attempting to delay the elections under claims that some citizens working in resorts did not get the chance to re-register.

Revealing that the resort in question is Sheraton Maldives, he noted that the decision not to keep a ballot box was made by the resort's management. He further shared that after the time period allocated for re-registery, the resort had requested to place a ballot box.

"Some of the staff in the resort re-registered, and so there is not even one percent chance of delaying the election", said Shareef.

He stated that the commission took extra care in abiding by the law in the preparations for the election.

Additionally, Shareef stated that 99 percent of the preparations for elections are already complete, and if the voting was delayed, it would cost them an additional MVR 20 million.

Meanwhile, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also commented on the issue and stated that he would not allow opposition Progressive Party of Maldives' attempts to delay the election succeed.

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