Statement of the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy on the blocked presidential elections in the Maldives

    The Parliamentary Forum for Democracy is gravely concerned about the police of Maldives blocking the presidential election scheduled for October 19, 2013, by entering the offices of the Maldives Election Commission and stopping officials distributing election materials.
    The Maldives has been in turmoil since ex-President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in disputed circumstances in 2012. If the Maldives will be unable to elect a replacement for former president Mr. Waheed by the end of his official term, Maldives may face a serious constitutional crisis.
    The purpose of presidential elections is that citizens freely elect the head of the executive power. Branches of the executive, including the police may not interfere into the elections, except for cases clearly provided by the laws governing the elections.
    The Parliamentary Forum for Democracy believes that free and fair elections are the cradle of democracy. Without free and fair elections, no government can have political legitimacy stemming from the people.
    The Parliamentary Forum for Democracy calls on the authorities of the Maldives to call for a repeated election in the nearest future possible, and make it sure that the election will be conducted without any improper and illegal police intervention.
    The Parliamentary Forum for Democracy proposes the People’s Majlis to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the events of October 19, and report to the Maldives’ public about its findings and proposals.