MALE: The Election Commission of Maldives has said that a new presidential election will be held across the country on November 9, whereas a runoff will be held on November 16 if no candidate wins fifty percent votes.
This announcement follows discussions with representatives appointed by the government and the presidential candidates, President of Elections Commission Fuwad Thowfeek told media representatives in the capital Male.
“We have held discussions with the representatives of the presidential candidates and an official appointed by the government. We have considered their suggestions, and have determined the earliest possible date for the election,” he said.
Fuwad said that their suggestions have also been discussed with the technical team of the Elections Commission.
On Saturday, Presidential elections were postponed in Maldives after police declared the vote illegal and blocked ballot papers from leaving the offices of the independent Elections Commission.
Police spokesman Abdulla Nawaz said that they considered it illegal to stage the election in violation of a Supreme Court order that required all candidates to approve electoral lists.
“Only one candidate had signed the voter register and therefore it would have been a violation of the Supreme Court guidelines for the election to go ahead,” he said.
