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This is an archive article published on May 15, 2012
Maldives polls to be free,fair but not early: Waheed
Maldives President Mohamed Waheed said that India was not pushing his government to do anything against the Maldives Constitution and that he will hold free and fair elections,but virtually ruled out early polls
Written by Express News Service
New Delhi | May 15, 2012 01:42 AM IST
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2 min read
Maldives President Mohamed Waheed said on Monday that India was not pushing his government to do anything against the Maldives Constitution and that he will hold free and fair elections,but virtually ruled out early polls.
I am all for free and fair elections. I can assure you that there will be elections in Maldives as early as the Constitution of the country shall allow. Any earlier than that… we will have to look into political considerations in the country. Coalition partners are not in agreement over an earlier election than July next year,partly because they themselves are not ready for it, Waheed said.
He met President Pratibha Patil,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior leaders in Delhi in the last few days,and went to Mumbai on Monday to seek business investments.
Explaining that Maldives had a presidential system and not a parliamentary one,Waheed said that an early election would warrant numerous political changes,including amendment in the constitution to give a five-year term to the President.
He said that he will invite observers from foreign countries during the elections.
Waheed said,Maldives today is more democratic than it has ever been. This whole story is about democracy. It is not about me,it is not about Nasheed. It about democracy in a small country that is 100 per cent Muslim. It is a very unique story.
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