Democrats’ officials refuse to leave EC until permit issued

The founder of The Democrats, West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef states the party’s officials will not leave the Elections Commission (EC) headquarters until they receive permission to hold the party’s inaugural meeting.

Speaking to press outside the EC headquarters in Male’ on Sunday, Hassan Latheef said the commission said they were trying to hold a meeting Sunday night.

He said some of the commissioners weren’t cooperating.

“One of the commissioners is in Mecca for hajj pilgrimage. Of the other four commissioners, the chairman [Fuad Thaufeeq] and the vice chairman [Ismail Habeeb] are trying to hold the meeting. I don’t believe the other two commissioners are cooperating,” he said.

@TheDemocratsMV wait at the election commission for news of party registration. pic.twitter.com/Stcc0bL1zK

— Ehabkalhey (@EhabAbdulla81) June 18, 2023

Hassan Latheef said they were trying to do everything possible to make the two commissioners come in for the meeting. He said they were calling them on their phones.

“They can hold the meeting and get this done immediately. But we see them delaying it. I see these two commissioners trying whatever they can to block the registration of this party,” he said.

EC was not immediately available for comment regarding the situation.