EC chair absent from commission meetings for a month
Fuad has previously said he will not resign as it is a vote without legal force.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Elections Commission (EC) chairman Fuad Thaufeeg has not attended meetings of the commussion for a month after differences of opinion among members.
During the registration process of The Democrats party led by former President Mohammed Nasheed, Fuad and some other members of the commission had a dispute:
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Ali Nashath, a member of the commission, accused Fuad of trying to give permission to The Democrats in a hurry; Fuad denies it
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Two members of the commission refused to grant permission without further examination of the forms
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The Democrats were allowed to form on July 2, a month after the application was submitted
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Fuad's no-confidence motion was passed at a commission meeting
Some members refused to participate in meetings if Fuad sits in the official sessions of the commission. Therefore, Fuad decided to hand over the chairmanship of the commission's meetings to Vice President Ismail Habeeb.
Habeeb told Atoll Times on Sunday that Fuad has not attended the commission meetings since he was handed over the presidency.
"The president [Fuad] decided to entrust me with the responsibility of holding the sessions and presiding over the commission," Habeeb, who is also the EC spokesperson, said.
With just 40 days to go for the presidential election, the EC currently has four members, including Fuad, as Nashath’s five-year term expired on July 25. Only three members are attending the commission meetings with Habeeb.
When asked about his absence from the commission meetings, Fuad said it was a concern for him as well and that he was working to find a solution to the issue.
“I am working to resolve the issue within this week and to ensure that I can attend meetings in the future,” said Fuad, who is serving his second term as commission chairman.
"Hopefully it will be all right. I'm very concerned about this."
When asked how he was trying to find a solution, Fuad said he was trying to find a peaceful solution by talking to the disgruntled members.
Although the commission passed a no-confidence motion against Fuad, it was not a vote of any consequence. According to the Elections Commission Act, the EC chair cannot be removed from office by a vote among the members.
Fuad has previously said he will not resign as it is a vote without legal force.
