MDP accuses govt of influencing parliament election date
"Our stand is still to hold the election after Ramadan. We will still ask the commission to hold the elections after Ramadan," he said.
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By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) on Thursday accused the Election Commission (EC) of influencing the government to hold elections during the month of Ramadan.
The EC on Wednesday decided to hold the polls early in the month of Ramadan, on March 17, the seventh day of Ramadan.
MDP spokesperson Anas Abdul Sattar told Atoll Times on Thursday that the party believes that the government is influencing the EC to hold the elections during the month of Ramadan.
"Our stand is still to hold the election after Ramadan. We will still ask the commission to hold the elections after Ramadan," he said.
One of the reasons why the party is accusing the government of influencing the date of the elections is, according to Anas:
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The parties and independent institutions that attended the meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Elections also advised not to hold the elections during the month of Ramadan, as it would be difficult
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However, the commission has fixed the date against the advice of those who attended the meeting
The ruling main parties PNC and PPM did not attend the meeting.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission said the reasons for holding the elections early in the month of Ramadan were:
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If it is held on a date after Ramadan, there are major administrative obstacles
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The week after the end of Ramadan and the Eid holiday is the school examination period, according to the revised academic calendar; therefore, there will not be enough places to set up polling stations in schools to hold elections during that period
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The last ten days of Ramadan are now public holidays, so it will be difficult to get the help and cooperation of government ministries and state institutions
