Maldivian presidential election, 2008

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
 This article or section contains information about a forthcoming election.
Content may change dramatically as the election approaches.
‹ 2003 Flag of the Maldives
Maldivian presidential election, 2008
October 8 and October 29, 2008
Nominee Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Mohamed Nasheed
Party DRP MDP
Running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali Mohamed Hassan Manik
Maldives

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
the Maldives
Other countries · Atlas
 Politics portal
view • talk • edit

Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on October 8, 2008; [1] it was initially planned to be held on October 4, 2008,[2] but had to be delayed after the Majlis (national assembly) did not pass necessary reforms on time.[3] Because no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff round on October 29, 2008 between Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed.[4] The elections are the Maldives' first democratic elections,[5] and there are 396 polling stations throughout the islands.[6]

There are 208,252 eligible voters in the Maldives, which is roughly 60% of the population.[7] Registered Maldivians living in Colombo, Thiruvananthapuram, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are permitted to vote in Maldivian embassies and consulates.[6][8]

Contents

[edit] Background

The incumbent Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in power since 1978, will run again "for one more five-year term", despite the fact that he already served the maximum number of terms allowed; he argues that as the election will be held under a new constitution, the previous term limits do not apply. (The new constitution came into effect on August 7, 2008.)[9] Serving 30 years as President, Gayoom has been Asia's longest serving leader.[5] The opposition stated it would take the case to court.[10]

On August 25, 2008 the Maldives National Congress and the Justice Party announced that they would support Republican Party candidate Qasim Ibrahim.[11]

On September 3, 2008 the six candidates participated in a televised debate.[12][13]

[edit] Voting

Voters went to the polls on October 8, 2008 starting at 09:00 local time (04:00 UTC), and expecting to end at 20:00 (15:00 UTC)[14] The elections were peaceful, though voting irregularities prevented some voters from voting.[15] Lines to polling stations were long on some islands, with waits sometimes exceeding six hours.[16] A number of citizens, especially of the opposition to the ruling Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), were found to be not on the voter list, even though they had registered, and some islands did not even receive voter lists.[17][18] Later, the election committee said that anyone could vote, as long as he or she showed an ID card that was valid.[16] A handful of riot police were deployed after 300 protesters gathered around the central vote-counting location, Nasandhura Palace.[18]

Ahmed Shaheed, the independent vice-presidential nominee said, "It's a disaster... I think there is deliberate tampering."[16] MDP chairwoman Mariya Didi, who incidentally registered but was not on a voter list, echoed similar concerns: "We hoped that once in our lifetime we could vote freely, but today we are being denied our right to vote."[17]

[edit] Results

Six candidates competed in the first multi party election ever held in the Maldives. It appears that there will be a runoff between Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed,[19] as early results from the morning of October 9, 2008 showed Gayoom ahead with 40.3% against Nasheed's 24.9%.[20] Those results stayed the same, and the four other candidates were eliminated, so a runoff between Gayoom and Nasheed will occur within the next ten days.[21]

Third-placed Hassan Saeed, a former attorney-general, threw his support to Nasheed for the second round.[21] Ibrahim Ismail also backed Nasheed, and the other two candidates are expected to vouch for Nasheed as well.[22]

Maldivian presidential election, 2008[23]
Party Candidate Running mate First round Second round
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (inc.) Ahmed Thasmeen Ali 71,774 40.33%
Democratic Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Hassan Manik 44,315 24.90%
Independent Hassan Saeed Ahmed Shaheed 29,656 16.66%
Republican Qasim Ibrahim Ahmed Ali Sawaad 27,128 15.24%
Islamic Democratic Umar Naseer Ahmed Rizwy 2,472 1.39%
Social Liberal Ibrahim Ismail Fathimath Nahid Shakir 1,382 0.78%
Invalid or blank votes 1,232 0.69%
Totals 177,959 100.00% 100.00%
Voter turnout 85.45%

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Maldives presidential poll now set for Oct. 8", Reuters (2008-09-17). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  2. ^ "Elections Slated For 4 October". Minivan Daily (2008-09-08). Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
  3. ^ "Maldives elections 'are delayed'", BBC News (2008-09-10). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  4. ^ "Maldives poll goes to second round", Al Jazeera English (2008-10-09). Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  5. ^ a b "Vote count underway after landmark Maldives election", Agence France-Presse, Google News (2008-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-10-08. 
  6. ^ a b "Maldivian nationals in Kerala cast vote in their presidential elections", Daily India (2008-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-10-08. 
  7. ^ "Election Commission urges for a free and peaceful election", Miadhu Daily (2008-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-10-08. 
  8. ^ "Election Commission urges for a free and peaceful election", Miadhu Daily (2008-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  9. ^ "Maldives adopt new constitution", BBC News (2008-08-07). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  10. ^ "Maldives to hold multi-party polls before October", Reuters (2008-04-20). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  11. ^ "Maldives National Congress and Adhaalath Decides to Support Republicans". Raajje Khabaru (2008-08-25). Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
  12. ^ "Country’s First Ever Presidential Debate Takes Place". Raajje Khabaru (2008-09-04). Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
  13. ^ "Presidential Q&A: What The Candidates Said". Minivan Daily (2008-09-04). Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
  14. ^ Evans, Judith (2008-10-08). "Maldives hold historic presidential poll", Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  15. ^ Pasricha, Anjana (2008-10-08). "Maldives Holds Its First Democratic Presidential Election", Voice of America. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  16. ^ a b c Nessman, Ravi (2008-10-08). "Maldives votes in first democratic election", Associated Press, Google News. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  17. ^ a b "Maldives opposition says poll rigged", Taipei Times (2008-10-09). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  18. ^ a b Lang, Olivia; Rasheed, Zaheena (2008-10-08). "Elections May Be Called Off", Minivan Daily. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  19. ^ Evans, Judith (2008-10-09). "Early Morning Unofficial Results Suggest Gayoom-Anni Runoff", Minivan Daily. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  20. ^ "Gayoom faces run-off in Maldives", BBC News (2008-10-09). Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  21. ^ a b Nessman, Ravi (2008-10-09). "Maldives leader faces runoff in 1st free election", Associated Press, KOHD. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  22. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (2008-10-10). "Anni Says Whole Opposition Is Behind Him", Miadhu Daily. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. 
  23. ^ "Presidential Election 2008", Miadhu Daily (2008-10-10). Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Flag of the Maldives Maldivian presidential elections
1973 · 1978 · 1983 · 1988 · 1993 · 1998 · 2003 · 2008
1975 · 1989 · 1994 · 1999 · 2005 · 2009
Flag of the Maldives Maldivian referendums
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldivian_presidential_election,_2008"
Personal tools