Amid the deepening political turmoil in Maldives, caused by the blocking of the second-round run-off vote in the presidential election, the United States has sharply criticised outgoing Maldives President Mohammed Waheed’s decision to continue in office beyond his term that ended last Sunday.
“The US Government is deeply concerned by President Waheed’s unprecedented decision to remain past the legal mandate of his presidency, which ended on November 10,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, adding: “This action has endangered the Maldivian people’s right to elect a leader of their choice.”
In a statement, issued after Waheed asserted that he would not leave office until a successor was sworn-in, Psaki said, “The democratic process must be supported by quickly concluding a free, fair, transparent and inclusive run-off election that results in the prompt inauguration of the new President”.
“In the lead-up to the November 16 second-round vote, it is important to avoid violence and for the police and military to show restraint and respect the human rights of all Maldivian citizens,” Psaki said.
In the first-round vote last Saturday, former President Mohamed Nasheed secured nearly 47 per cent of the vote, compared with just under 30 per cent for his nearest rival Abdulla Yameen, a half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who had ruled Maldives for 30 years. To be declared the winner, a candidate needs to poll at least 50 per cent.
The Maldivian Supreme Court’s last-minute postponement of Sunday’s second-round vote has given rise to renewed suspicions that it was aimed at blocking a Nasheed victory, leading to clashes between his supporters and the police.
While Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had warned that the country could be heading for a constitutional crisis unless the election was speedily completed, the Supreme Court ruled that outgoing President Waheed could remain as a caretaker. Nasheed, who won Maldives’ first multi-party elections in 2008 but was forced to resign early last year after clashing with the judiciary and security forces, has accused the highest court and Waheed of deliberately blocking him.
Election of the new President has already been blocked thrice. Nasheed had initially won the September 7 election, but the vote was annulled on charges of rigging. Another poll in October was halted by the police after a Supreme Court ruling.