‘Proposed to check the forms, no intention to stall issuance of permit’

The two members of the Elections Commission (EC) accused by the commission’s president of stalling the issuance of the permit required to be issued by the commission to form The Democrats – a new political party being formed by supporters of Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed – has denied the allegations.

Officials of The Democrats went to EC headquarters on Sunday over the delays in the issuance of permit to form the party; more than three weeks since the party submitted for registration with forms from 3,000 members.

The Democrats’ officials, who had been waiting at the EC headquarters for hours, refusing to leave until the commission registered the party, were informed of the decision by the commission’s chairman Fuad Thaufeeq on Sunday night.

Addressing the crowd of Democrats’ officials, Fuad said two of the commission members have denied the issuance of permit, and wish to extend the registration process to three months, as allowed by the law.

Democrats’ officials questioned Fuad regarding why the two commissioners refused to register the party, and repeated their allegation of government influence within the commission. Fuad, in response, said the members had no reason for their decision. He also said the members accused Fuad of being influenced in his work.

EC’s member Ali Nashath, speaking with Sun, refuted the allegations.

He said the two members did not wish to stall the process, but rather proposed to recheck the forms by a five-member committee based on suspicious behavior from Fuad’s side. Nashath added that permit to register the party will be provided to The Democrats as soon as the process is completed.

“Wanted to recheck because of the president’s actions and the trust in the process has been lost. Will give the permit as soon as the checking is over. If it finishes tomorrow, will vote tomorrow,” he said.

Nashath detailed Maldives National Party (MNP) to the party that had been awarded the permit the fastest to date. Nevertheless, he said the party was awarded the permit after completing the necessary processes. Therefore, he said the permission this time will also be awarded after completing these processes.

An emergency convening of EC was held on Sunday; prompted by the visit from The Democrats’ officials.  Four members attended the convening. While Fuad, and Deputy President Ismail Habeeb voted to award the permit, members Nashath and Mohamed Asif voted against awarding the permit.

Nashath, noting the present policy requires the forms to be entered into the system, reasoned he voted against awarding the permit, as they have not been entered into the system after confirming the witnesses.

Both individuals had proposed a five-member committee rechecks all the form as they suspect Fuad is being influenced. However, instead of asking for a vote for this proposal at the last night’s convening, a vote was asked regarding awarding the permit to form the party.

Nashath stressed that the permit will be awarded once all the processes are completed as per the regulations.

A senior official from EC revealed employees recruited for the presidential elections were being used to expedite processing The Democrats’ forms while they are also subject to significant pressure from Fuad. Some officials from EC suspect Fuad of keeping the employees overnight to process the forms.

Supporters of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed defected from the party to form The Democrats after major disagreements with the supporters of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the government.

The Democrats planning to contest the presidential elections once they are formed.

Although Nasheed is behind the formation of the party, he has yet to resign from MDP.