Government and politics Last elections: 9 and 16 November 2013 (presidential), 22 March 2014 (parliamentary) Next elections: 2018 (presidential), 2019 (parliamentary) Head of state: President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom Head of government: The President Ruling party: Progressive Coalition Women MPs: 6% President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was elected for a sixth term by the Majlis and was confirmed in his sixth term as President at the referendum in October 2003, during which he received 90 per cent of the votes. In June 2004 Gayoom announced proposals for wideranging constitutional reforms, including a multiparty system and a directly elected President. The general election in January 2005, observed by a Commonwealth expert team, was to be the last before political parties were allowed in June 2005. The main parties to emerge were the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP), led by the President; the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP); the Adalath (Justice) Party; and the Islamic Democratic Party. In March 2006 the government published its ‘Roadmap for the Reform Agenda’, which provided for the first multiparty elections to be held in 2008. In a constitutional referendum in August 2007, turnout was 77 per cent and 62 per cent of votes were cast for a presidential system as proposed by Gayoom’s DRP rather than a ‘Westminster’ parliamentary system advocated by the opposition MDP. The new constitution, which reduced presidential powers while strengthening the Majlis and the judiciary, was ratified in August 2008. The first multiparty presidential elections were held in October 2008 and turnout was 86 per cent. Gayoom received 40.3 per cent of votes, Mohamed Nasheed (MDP) 24.9 per cent, Hassan Saeed (independent) 16.7 per cent and Qasim Ibrahim (Republican Party) 15.2 per cent. Nasheed defeated Gayoom in the run-off in late October 2008, receiving 54.2 per cent of the votes cast – turnout was 87 per cent – and Nasheed was sworn in as President on 11 November 2008. On 22 November, Ibrahim Nasir, whom Gayoom had succeeded as President in 1978, died. Ma l d i v e s The first multiparty parliamentary elections followed in May 2009. It was a close contest in which the DRP won the most seats (28 seats and 37 per cent of votes), the President’s MDP took 26 (33 per cent), independents 13 (17 per cent) and the People’s Alliance seven (nine per cent). The first multiparty local elections were held on 5 February 2011. Commonwealth observers were present at the 2008 presidential, the 2009 parliamentary and the 2011 local elections. On 7 February 2012 President Nasheed resigned from office and his Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Waheed, was sworn in as President. Following former President Nasheed’s subsequent claim that his resignation was submitted under duress, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) sent a ministerial mission to Maldives during 18–20 February 2012. Then, at an extraordinary meeting of CMAG on 22 February, the Group placed Maldives on its agenda and Maldives’ membership of CMAG was held in abeyance. On 1 March Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma appointed Sir Donald McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, as his Special Envoy to Maldives. On 30 August 2012 the Commission of National Inquiry, which had been established to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the transfer of power on 7 February 2012, released a report concluding that the transfer of power had been legal and constitutional. At its meeting on 28 September 2012 CMAG agreed to continue to monitor the situation in Maldives. With a turnout of 88 per cent, the presidential election of 7 September 2013 resulted in former President Mohamed Nasheed, the MDP’s candidate, securing the largest share of the vote, 45.5 per cent. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) secured 25.4 per cent, Qasim Ibrahim of the Jumhooree Party 24.1 per cent and the incumbent President Mohamed Waheed 5.1 per cent. A Commonwealth observer group was present in Maldives 31 August–14 September 2013 and reported positively on the credibility of the electoral process. On 23 September the Supreme Court issued an injunction against the holding of the second round election, which was due to occur on 28 September 2013, and on 7 October the Supreme Court annulled the election of 7 September. A fresh election was announced for 19 October 2013 and Waheed subsequently withdrew from the contest. However, on 19 October it was announced that the election could not proceed that day and on 21 October new dates were set. In the first round on 9 November 2013 Nasheed took 46.9 per cent of votes, Yameen 29.7 per cent and Qasim 23.3 per cent. Yameen won the run-off on 16 November with 51.4 per cent and was sworn in as President on 17 November. The Commonwealth observer group said that the elections of 9 and 16 November were credible and peaceful, and brought to a conclusion what had been a complicated and unnecessarily protracted process. The People’s Majlis (parliamentary) elections held on 22 March 2014 were won by the Progressive Coalition, comprising the PPM (33 seats and 27.7 per cent of votes), Jumhooree Party (15 seats and 13.6 per cent) and Maldives Development Alliance (five seats and four per cent). The MDP secured 26 seats and 40.8 per cent of votes, independents five seats and 10.9 per cent and Adhaalath Party one seat. Turnout was 78.8 per cent. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 197 Governance institutions Attorney-General’s Office: www.agoffice.gov.mv Elections Commission: www.elections.gov.mv Maldives Monetary Authority: www.mma.gov.mv Ministry of Economic Development: www.trade.gov.mv Ministry of Finance and Treasury: www.finance.gov.mv Ministry of Home Affairs: www.homeaffairs.gov.mv People’s Majlis: www.majlis.gov.mv Supreme Court: www.supremecourt.gov.mv
CEP template 2012
To see the actual publication please follow the link above