SLP goes to Supreme Court to determine Gayoom’s eligibility

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

Social Liberal Party (SLP) has filed lawsuit claiming that Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) presidential candidate Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is contesting the presidential elections slated for October 8 against the constitution.

President of the SLP’s Legal Affairs Committee Ahmed Abdulla at a news conference held by the party yesterday said that the party is going to the Supreme Court as the party believes that DRP’s candidate Gayoom is not eligible to contest the elections under the new constitution even though his candidacy is accepted by the Election Commission.
Attorney Ahmed Abdulla said that article 107 of the constitution is very specific. It states “Presidential term is 5 years, and no person shall assume the office of the president for more than 2 terms consecutive or otherwise”.

“We have to interpret the law as per the spirit of the constitution; and SLP interprets this law to mean that anybody elected to be the president , whether under this constitution or any other, can only remain in office for only 2 terms” Ahmed Abdulla said.

At yesterday’s news conference SLP presidential candidate Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) said President Gayoom is fully aware that he cannot stand elections under this constitution which why he has been repeatedly claiming that he can stand elections. Ibra also said despite Gayoom’s claims there is no way he will be eligible to stand elections under this constitution.

Ibra further said the main reason why they have taken the matter to Supreme Court is due to the party’s promise to the Maldivian people. The main question on the people’s mind immediately after the ratification of the constitution was whether Gayoom can stand elections. He said SLP has always maintained that Gayoom is not eligible and acceptance of his candidacy by the Election Commission is against the constitution and the spirit of the constitution.

“We know the political situation has changed, those who very vocal in opposing Gayoom’s candidacy is now, in fact, supporting it, even MDP has joined this rank, it seems we are the only party in the country who are opposing this” Ibra said.

When asked what would be his reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter, Ibra said SLP will respect the Supreme Court decision. He said as the Supreme Court is the final authority to uphold the constitution they will always respect its decision.

He said arrangement for the forthcoming elections is far from complete. He noted that while more than 40,000 people of the atoll reside in Male’ as of yesterday only 2000 people have been registered.

The constitution guarantees the right to vote to every citizens but the right to vote of the resort staffs depend on a list forwarded by the management of the resort to the election commission ibra said. He said there is yet no arrangement for those who would be working on yachts on Election Day to cast their votes. These matters will have to be raised to the Supreme Court, after the elections, in order to demand the rights of the people and to seek justice.

Ibra also said it is unlikely that internal election observers will come to observe the election as they know that this election is not either free or fair.

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