Minivan News – Archive – Page 1217 – FIRST FOR INDEPENDENT NEWS IN THE MALDIVES

DQP allies with Thasmeen as “momentum with opposition”

The Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) has signed a coalition agreement with Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, after a day of political infighting among the opposition.

The deal could represent an alliance between Thasmeen and DQP leader Hassan Saeed against the DRP faction led by dismissed deputy leader Umar Naseer, who received tacit support from former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during the location council elections.

Although unable to speak of the role a collective opposition may play within the Maldives’ newly formed local councils, Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) Secretary General Abdulla Ameen claimed the recent elections showed public sentiment was “clearly” now against the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

“I think the local council elections clearly show that the public has no confidence in the government,” he said. “With two years until the next general election, the government will have to be much more accountable.”

With ballot counting yet to be finalised following polling for local councils over the weekend, the DQP said it had so far taken two seats – one each in the island and atoll councils – out of eight possible candidates running from within the party.

Ameen added that a “full strategy” for the DQP’s elected council members had yet to be outlined.

The uncertainty over the direction of the council members comes after Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, leader of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), yesterday told Minivan News that successful candidates in the elections were as yet unaware of the mandate for the country’s local councils.

“It is a fact that candidates from many parties including ours may not be clear on their responsibilities and mandates,” Thasmeen said.

Ameen said that the party would be speaking with its local council representatives as soon as possible to begin trying to outline policy and how exactly they will work to serve constituents.

“We are still waiting for official results, so I can’t say anything right now until we consult our councils and see what direction we will be taking,” he said. “Public sentiment appears to be with the [political] opposition. We now must see what they can do.”

However, the post-council election outlook for the DRP, the country’s main opposition party, seems uncertain.

Umar Naseer court-bound

Amidst claims by the DRP of a decisive victory during the local council election campaign that saw them take a large proportion of island seats, infighting within the party has continued this week, with former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer reportedly set to file a Civil Court case to nullify his dismissal.

Haveeru reported today that following the conclusion of the council election race, Naseer, who was dismissed by a DRP disciplinary committee back in December, is heading to the courts to have his former position reinstated.
The former deputy Leader has said he believes he still holds a deputy leader position in the party despite the internal DRP ruling and only a party congress has the authority to terminate his role, according to the report.

Naseer has been campaigning during the elections with DRP supreme leader and former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom with whom he spoke alongside at a “victory” celebration for the party this week at a ceremony near Male’s artificial beach.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

MDP could win an election “blindfolded”, gloats Nasheed

The ruling party’s election success in population hubs across the country gave “a clear indication of the current political situation”, President Mohamed Nasheed said during a party rally at the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Haruge.

“The government received huge support in some of the small populations. We need to consider the results of the election in several ways. This election is not about the amount of seats,” Haveeru reported Nasheed as saying.

“If we are able to do it [win elections] blindfolded I don’t see any reason why I can’t contest in 2013. It’s fortunate that the constitution limits the presidential terms to two,” he added in an apparent attempt to bait the opposition, today troubled by factional infighting.

According to Haveeru a jubilant Nasheed also criticised the campaigns of the opposition parties, as well as coalition party Adhaalath, saying he was “surprised that I couldn’t see anyone voting for Adhaalath Party except from Kinolhas (Raa Atoll). I did not see any party carrying out a good campaign except the MDP.”

The DRP has claimed victory in the local council elections citing a seat majority of 502 across island and atoll councils, to the MDP’s 375. The MDP has claimed victory because it won almost all the population hubs in the country, which could swing the popular vote in its favour.

The Elections Commission said this morning that it was still calculating the popular vote, which will give a percentage figure of support for each party.

This will provide a clearer indication of the election result than seat count or raw ballots, both because of the divide in DRP votes due to an ongoing factional split, and the ‘multiple’ votes made for island and atoll councils.

One senior figure in the MDP said the party’s preliminary calculations had pegged the result somewhere between 45-50% for the MDP and low 40s for the opposition – which would be a significant jump in support for the ruling party following the parliamentary election. However the source said the figure would be difficult to calculate with any accuracy until the Elections Commission provided voter turnout data.

Leader of the Labour Party Ahmed ‘Redwave’ Saleem, an MDP coalition partner, has meanwhile been quoted from a press statement as calling for Nasheed to resign from office and “hand over the presidency to a more qualified and responsible person.”

Saleem contends that the government misused state assets to conduct its campaign in the lead-up to the Local Council Elections, which saw President Nasheed visiting over 100 islands and giving 130 speeches.

The President’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair told Haveeru yesterday that the President had worn through three pairs of shoes during the campaign, and was now on a four-day break.

Opposition leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali meanwhile told Minivan News yesterday that the priority was to ensure that successful candidates from all sides were aware of their new responsbilities.

“It is a fact that candidates from many parties including ours may not be clear on their responsibilities and mandates,” Thasmeen said.

“We don’t have any details on when the local councils will begin their work, and there are many issues that need to be finalised. For example, how will these councils interact with the government?”

Parties across the political spectrum would be required to provide “support structures” such as technical training to try prepare individual council members for decentralised governance, he added.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

“Ready to serve the people”: Sheikh Hussein Rasheed congratulates candidates

The Adhaalath Party’s President Sheikh Hussein Rasheed Ahmed has congratulated all the candidates of the Adhaalath party who ran for the Local Council Elections.

Sheikh Hussein Rasheed in a statement said that his party was ready to serve the citizens of the country as much as it could.

”We believe that success is for to whom God grants it,” Sheikh Hussein Rasheed said. ”And we believe that we can only serve the citizens to the extent the citizens wish us to.”

Adhaalath Party won one seat in Haa Alifu Atoll Muraidhoo island council, one in Haa Dhaalu Atoll Nolhivaram island council, two seats in Makunudhoo in the same atoll, two seats of Shaviyani Atoll Bileifahi island council, one seat in Noonu Atoll Landhu, one seat in Raa Atoll Dhuvaafaru, one is Rasgetheemu of the same atoll, four seats of Kinolhas in the same atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll Olhuvelifushi island council’s two seats and Veymandu, Thaa Atoll island council’s one seat.

A total of 17 seats were won by Adhaalath Party according to the last preliminary results issued by the Elections Commission.

Sheikh Hussein Rasheed recently told Minivan News that Adhaalath candidates would focus on “wide ranging development”, aiming to reduce problems associated with drug abuse and “uniting people together”.

“We will co-operate with the government as per the law, of course,” he added.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

News sites and celebrity blogs awash with reports of Maldives’ blonde “fantasy” island

Self-described ‘Internet’s most notorious gossip columnist blogger’ Perez Hilton has joined a growing number of international media outlets to cover the story of the Lithuania-based company Olialia’s plans for a luxury Maldivian resort staffed only by individuals with blonde hair or wigs.

Last week, Olialia Brand Manager Lauryna Anuseviciute told the Associated Press that non-blonde staff at the proposed resort, which is set to be built on a man-made island resembling a high-heeled shoe, “will wear a blond wig to make everyone look similar.”

Although Olialia’s resort plans were first announced back last September, the story has this week garnered attention from news sources all around the world, including Sky News, The Week, the Sydney Morning Herald and Perez Hilton’s blog – usually a source for the latest news on pop stars like Britney Spears rather than tourist developments in the Maldives.

“Lithuanian company Olialia has created a business empire, and their newest venture is a ‘fantasy resort’ island in Maldives,” the blogger wrote. Perez Hilton also referenced Anuseviciute, who described the importance of hair colour to the business plan.

Maldivian tourism authorities have yet to officially hear of – or approve – the ambitious project.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

President on break following election tour

President Mohamed Nasheed is on a four day holiday following the conclusion of the local council elections, reports Haveeru.

The President’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair claimed the president had worn through three pairs of shoes during a campaign tour of 100 islands, during which he delivered 130 speeches.

Nasheed will spend his break at Muleeage, Haveeru reported, and return to work on Sunday.

Likes

(1)Dislikes

(0)

Many successful candidates unclear on new responsibilities and mandates, says Thasmeen

Many successful candidates in the local council election remained unaware of their new responsibilities, or even the mandate of a local council, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has said.

“It is a fact that candidates from many parties including ours may not be clear on their responsibilities and mandates,” Thasmeen told Minivan News.

At present though, the DRP leader said that the party’s key priority was to set out timelines and policy on how local councils would operate, and how they would collaborate with parliament – something he said there were few details of at present.

“We don’t have any details on when the local councils will begin their work, and there are many issues that need to be finalised,” said the opposition party leader. “For example, how will these councils interact with the government?”

Thasmeen added that he was ultimately satisfied with the party’s performance in the election, and believed it was on track to obtain at least 50 percent of all council seats as the results of more ballots became known.

“The council elections have been a good victory, our forecasts now show that perhaps we can obtain 60 percent of the total vote with the MDP at around 35 percent,” he said.

In light of the DRP’s performance at the polls, former president and the party’s honorary leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom hosted a “Welcome to Blue Maldives” celebration yesterday together with ousted Deputy Leader Umar Naseer. However Thasmeen said that “as a party we have made the decision to not formally hold a victory party as we have work to do relating to local councils.”

Thasmeen said that while the opposition party’s 2013 presidential campaign would be very different to the local council elections, it did provide stepping stones for the way ahead.

Meanwhile, reports of factions forming within the DRP between supporters of Thasmeen and dismissed former DRP Deputy Leader Umar Naseer do not appear to be going away.

Umar Naseer today forwarded reports of the alleged resignation of Dr Mohamed Saud, Thasmen’s recently appointed Advisor on Human Resources after taking part in a DRP victory rally.

Thasmeen said he had been unable to confirm the reports with Dr Saud at time of press, and was unable to disclose any more details on the allegations until his office had spoken with the advisor.

The ruling party was similarly upbeat about the results of the election. A senior government source, also an MDP member, told Minivan News that “traditionally, governments usually get a kicking in midterm elections.”

“We’re still analysing the results but we won the population centres and it looks like we’ll be ahead in the popular vote. We won Male’, Addu, Kulhufushi and Thinadhoo – in Fuvahmulah it was more split,” the source said.

“We got 25 percent in the presidential election, 33 percent in the parliamentary election – I think we could see 40 percent in this election, if not higher.”

Transparency Maldives has meanwhile expressed concern at the amount of “subtle” campaigning conducted inside and outside the polling areas.

Transparency’s spokesperson Aiman Rasheed said that “nearly all observers” had noticed this taking place.

“The EC has said it was not able to find really experienced officials and ended up relying on some very young people, particularly on the islands,” he said. “There was a lot of intimidation of polling officials.”

There were also some issues with assisted voting, Rasheed added, with elected officials inconsistent in allowing assisted votes. Inconsistency had also been observed in declaring ballots invalid, he said.

Despite these observations, Rasheed said the election “was credible and very transparent in the way it was conducted.”

He did note issues with media outlets struggling to provide balanced coverage in the lead-up to the vote, “which is when many people make their decisions”.

“MNBC said it was trying but opposition parties were boycotting them, while DhiTV and VTV said the same thing about the ruling party. The state media also said its budget had been slashed. A lot of journalists have also come up and told us their editorial policy on paper was different from how things really worked.”

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

SAARC considers Maldivian for first female secretary general

Former Maldivian Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed is reportedly set to be appointed as the first female secretary-general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The Hindu, an India-based newspaper, today reported that Saeed, who has previously served as the Maldives’ attorney-general, is expected to take the position from India’s Sheel Kant Sharma once he completes his three year stint as SAARC secretary general later this month.

According to the report, unnamed diplomatic sources have suggested that the appointment comes as the organisation aims to focus on issues of women’s empowerment and maternal healthcare.

A spokesperson for SAARC was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

The appointment of a new secretary general is expected ahead of a summit to be held by the regional organisation in the Maldives later this year.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

Local Council Elections 2011: Preliminary results by island and party

The DRP has won 502 seats, 91 island councils and 10 atoll councils, according to preliminary results of the local council elections.

MDP won 375 seats, 61 island councils, four atoll councils and 88 percent of the city council seats.

Independents took 160 seats, 15 island councils and one atoll council (Dhaalu).

The Elections Commission of the Maldives has said that the commission will announce the official result of the Local Council Elections within two weeks.

In the meantime, preliminary results are subject to change and media is accountable for its own reporting of seats won and lost by specific candidates, the EC stated.

”Any media that circulates information that a seat was won by a specific candidate according to an unverified result, shall do so of its own responsibility,” said the commission.

The commission said will be updating its results website as soon as sheets are received at the main office in Male’.

The following breakdown of results by island is sourced from the Elections Commission’s website. Full breakdown and names of candidates are available on the commission’s website (Dhivehi).

HAA ALIFU ATOLL COUNCILS

HOARAFUSHI – 2 MDP

IHAVANDHU – 2 MDP

BAARAH – 2 DRP

DHIDHU – 1 MDP and 1 DRP

KELA – 2 DRP

HAA ALIFU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

THURAAKUNU – 2 MDP 1 IND

ULIGAMU -5 IND

MOLHADHU – 5 MDP

HOARAFUSHI – 6 MDP and 1 IND

IHAVANDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

KELA – 4 DRP 1 MDP

VASHAFARU – 5 DRP

DHIDHU – 5 MDP 2 DRP

FILADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

MAARANDHU – 5 IND

THAKANDHU – 5 MDP

UTHEEMU – 5 DRP

MURAIDHU – 4 MDP 1 ADH

BAARAH – 3 DRP 2 MDP

HAA DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

HANIMAADHOO – 1 MDP 1DRP

NOLHIVARAM – 2 DRP

VAIKARADHU – 1 MDP 1 IND

KULHUDHUFUSHI NORTH – 2 MDP

KULHUDHUFUSHI SOUTH – 2 MDP

HAA DHAALU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

HANIMADHU – 3 MDP 2 DRP

FINEY – 4 DRP 1 MDP

NAVAIDHU – 5 DRP

NOLHIVARANFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

NELLAIDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

NOLHIVARAM – 3 MDP 1 ADH 1 IND

KURIMBI – 4 RP 1 MDP

NEYKURENDHU – 3 MDP 2 DRP

VAIKARADHU – 5 MDP

MAKUNUDHU – 2 ADH 3 MDP

SHAVIYANI ATOLL AREA

KANDITHEEMU – 2 DRP

MILANDHU – 2 MDP

KOMANDU – 2 DRP

FUNADHU – 2 DRP

SHAVIYANI ATOLL ISLAND COUNCIL

KANDITHEEMU – 5 DRP

NOOMARA – 5 MDP

GOIDHU – 5 DRP

FEYDHU – 2 MDP 3 DRP

FEEVAK – 4 DRP 1 IND

BILEIFAHI – 3 DRP 2 ADH

FOAKAIDHU – 5 DRP

NARUDHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

MAROSHI – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 ADH

LHAIMAGU – 5 MDP

KOMANDU – 5 MDP

MAAUNGUDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

FUNADHU – 5 DRP

MILANDHU – 5 MDP

NOONU ATOLL AREA

KENDHIKULHUDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

MANADHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

VELIDHU – 2 DRP

NOONU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

HENBADHU – 4 IND 1 DRP

KENDHIKULHUDHU – 3 DMP 2 DRP

MAALHENDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

KUDAFAREE – 5 MDP

LANDHU – 3 IND 1 ADH 1 MDP

MAAFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

LHOHI – 5 DRP

MILADHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

MAGUDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

MANADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

HOLHUDHU – 5 DRP

FODHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

VELIDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

RAA ATOLL AREA

ALIFUSHI – 2 DRP

UNGUFAARU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

DHUVAFARU – 1 DRP 1 ADH

INGURAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

MADUVVARI – 2 DRP

RAA ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

ALIFUSHI – 3 DRP 2 MDP

VAADHU – 5 DRP

RAGETHEEMU – 3 DRP 1 ADH 1 MDP

ANGOLHITHEEMU – 2 MDP 2 DRP 1 IND

HULHUDHUFFAARU – 5 MDP

UNGUFAARU – 5 DRP

DHUVAAFARU – 4 DRP 2 IND 1 MDP

MAAKURATHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

RASMADHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

INNAMADHU – 3 MDP 2 IND

MADUVVARI – 3 MDP 1 IND 1 DRP

INGURAIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

MEEDHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

FAINU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

KINOLHAHU – 4 ADH 1 IND

BAA ATOLL AREA

THULHAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

EYDHAFUSHI – 2 DRP

KENDHU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

KUDARIKILU – 3 DRP 2 IND

KAMADHU – 5 MDP

KENDHU – 2 MDP 2 IND 1 DRP

KIHAADHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

DHONFANU – 3 DRP 2 IND

DHARAVANDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

MAALHOS – 3 MDP 1 DRP 1 IND

EYDHAFUSHI – 5 DRP

THULHAIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

HITHAADHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

FULHADHU – 5 DRP

FEHENDHU – 5 DRP

GOIDHU – 5 MDP

LHAVIYANI ATOLL AREA

HINNAVARU – 1 JUMHOORY PARTY 1 MDP

NAIFARU – 2 DRP

KURENDHU – 2 MDP

HINNAVARU – 5 MDP 2 DRP

NAIFARU – 7 DRP

KURENDHU – 5 MDP

OLHUVELIFUSHI – 2 ADH 1 MDP 2 IND

FELIVARU – TO BE ANNOUNCED

KAAFU ATOLL AREA COUNCILS

KAASHIDHU – 1 MDP 1 DRP

THULUSDHU – 2 DRP

GURAIDHU – 1 DRP 1 MDP

KAAFU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

KAASHIDHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

GAAFARU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

DHIFFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

THULUSDHOO – 4 DRP

HURAA – 5 DRP

HINMAFUSHI – 5 DRP

GULHI – 5 DRP

MAAFUSHI – 5 MDP

GURAIDHU – 5 DRP

ARI ATOLL UTHURUBURI COUNCIL [NORTH ARI ATOLL]

MATHIVERI AREA – 2 MDP

THODDU AREA – 2 MDP

ARI ATOLL UTHURUBURI ISLANDS COUNCIL [NORTH ARI ATOLL]

THODDU – 5 DRP 1 MDP

RASDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

UKULHAS – 5 MDP

MATHIVERI – 2 MDP 3 DRP

FERIDHU – 5 DRP

MAALHOS – 5 MDP

HIMANDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

ALIF DHAALU ATOLL COUNCILS [SOUTH ARI ATOLL]

MAAMIGILI – 2 JP

MAHIBADHU – 1 DRP 1 JP

A.DH ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL [SOUTH ARI ATOLL]

HANYAMEEDHU – 4 IND 1 JP

OMADHU – 5 IND

KUMBURUDHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MAHIBADHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

MANDHU – 5 DRP

DHANGETHI – 2 JP 2 DRP 1 IND

DHIGURAH – 5 DRP

DHIDHU – 4 IND 1 JP

FENFUSHI – 3 JP 2 MDP

MAAMIGILI – 5 JP

VAAVU ATOLL COUNCIL

FELIDHU – 2 DRP

KEYODHU – 2 DRP

VAAVU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

FULIDHU – 5 MDP

THINADHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

FELIDHU – 5 DRP

KEYODHU – 5 DRP

RAKEEDHU – 5 MDP

MEEMU ATOLL COUNCILS

DHIGGARU – 2 DRP

MULAKU – 1 DRP

MEEMU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

RAIMANDHU – 5 DRP

VEYVASHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MULAKU – 5 DRP

MULEE – 5 DRP

NAALAAFUSHI – 5 DRP

KOLHUFUSHI – 4 DRP 1 IND

DHIGGARU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MADUVVARU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

FAAFU ATOLL COUNCIL

BILEIDHU – 1 MDP 1 IND

NILNADHU – 1 DRP 1 IND

FAAFU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

FEEALI – 5 IND

BILEIDHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

MAGUDHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

DHARANBUDHU – 2 DRP 2 MDP 1 IND

NILNADHU – 3 DRP 1 IND 1 MDP

DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

MEEDHU 1 MDP 1 IND

KUDAHUVADHU – 2 IND

DHAALU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

MEEDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

BANDIDHU – 5 IND

RINBUDHU – 3 MDP 2 IND

HULHUDHELI – 5 DRP

VAANEE – 5 IND

MAAENBUDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

KUDAHUVADHU – 4 IND 1 MDP

THAA ATOLL COUNCIL

VILUFUSHI – 1 MDP 1 IND

THIMARAFUSHI – 2 DRP

KINBIDHU – 2 DRP

THAA ATOLL ISLAND COUNCIL

BURUNI – 3 MDP 2 IND

VILUFUSHI – 5 MDP

MADIFUSHI – 3 DRP 2 MDP

DHIYAMIGILI – 3 MDP 2 IND

GURAIDHU – 5 DRP

KANDUDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VANDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

HIRILANDHU – 3 DRP 1 MDP 1 IND

GAADHIFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 IND

THIMARAFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VEYMANDU – 2 DRP 2 IND 1 ADH

KINBIDHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

OMADHU – 5 IND

LAAMU ATOLL COUNCIL

ISDHOO – 2 DRP

GAN – 2 DRP

FONADHU – 2 DRP

MAAVAH – 1 DRP 1 MDP

LAAMU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCIL

ISDHOO – 4 MDP 1 DRP

DHANBIDHU – 5 DRP

MAABAIDHU – 3 DRP 2 IND

MUNDU – 4 DRP 1 IND

GAN – 5 DRP 2 MDP

MAAVAH – 5 DRP

FONADHU – 5 DRP

GAADHU – 4 DRP 1 IND

MAAMENDHU – 5 DRP

HITHADHU – 4 DRP 1 MDP

KUNAHANDHU – 3 IND 2 MDP

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL COUNCIL

VILLINGILI – 1 DRP 1 MDP

DHAANDHU – 2 DRP

GEMANAFUSHI – 2 DRP

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL ISLANDS COUNCILS

KOLAMAAFUSHI – 4 MDP 1 DRP

VILLINGILI – 6 DRP 1 MDP

MAAMENDHU – 5 DRP

NILNADHU – 5 DRP

DHAANDHU – 4 MDP 1 DRP

DHEVVADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

KONDEY – 5 IND

GEMANAFUSHI – 5 DRP

KANDUHULHUDHU – 5 DRP

GAAFU DHAALU ATOLL COUNCIL

THINADHU – 2 MDP

MADAVELI – 2 DRP

FARESMATHODA – 2 DRP

GADHU – 2 DRP

GAAFU DHAALU ATOLL ISLAND COUNCILS

THINADHU – 7 MDP

MADAVELI – 5 DRP

HOADEDHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

NADELLA – 4 DRP 1 IND

GADHU – 3 DRP 2 MDP

RATHAFANDHU – 2 MDP 2 DRP 1IND

VAADHU – 4 MDP 1 IND

FIYORI – 3 DRP 1 IND 1 MDP

FARESMATHODA – 5 DRP

GNAVIYANI ATOLL COUNCIL

FUVAMULAK NORTH AREA – 1 MDP 1 DRP

FUVAMULAK MID AREA – 1 DRP 1 MDP

FUVAMULAK SOUTH AREA – 2 DRP

FUVAMULAK ISLAND COUNCILS

DHANDIMAGU – 3 DRP

DHIGUWAADU – 3 MDP

HOADHADU – 3 MDP

MAADHADU – 3 MDP

MISKIMAGU – 3 DRP 1 MDP

FUNAADU – 2 MDP 1 DRP

MALEGAN – 2 DRP 1 MDP

DHOONDIGAN – 3 DRP

ADDU ATOLL COUNCILS

HULHUMEEDHOO AREA – MDP

FEYDHOO AREA – MDP

MARADHU AREA – MDP

HITHADHU NORTH – MDP

HITHADHU MID – MDP

HITHADHU SOUTH – MDP

MALE’

ALL THE AREAS OF MALE’ EXCEPT FOR GALOLHU SOUTH AND VILIMAAFANNU WAS WON BY MDP.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)

DRP wins seat majority, MDP cities in first local council election

The first local council election to be held in the Maldives has concluded with a clear seat majority for the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) across islands and atolls, however the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) took the majority of seats for almost every major population centre.

Preliminary results show that MDP holds all but two council seats in Male’ and every seat in Addu, where an election was cleared to proceed after a last-minute Supreme Court decision the day before. Together these areas account for around 40 percent of the voting population of the Maldives.

As a result, both parties celebrated election victories in Male’ yesterday evening, with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom headlining a “Welcome to Blue Maldives” rally at the artificial beach, while jubilant MDP supporters crowded into pickup trucks bedecked with yellow balloons, and drove around Male’ cheering before attending a rally at the MDP Haruge.

The Elections Commission (EC) is currently collating the results and should have final counts by 6pm this evening, which will allow an analysis of party preferences on a per-voter basis – a key indicator for the 2013 Presidential election. This is misleading to do with the raw ballot count, as those outside Male’ and Addu effectively voted twice – once for island council, once for atoll council.

Vice President of the Elections Commission, Ahmed Hassan Fayaz, said preliminary figures showed a 70 percent voter turnout across the country. Minivan News attended several polling stations across Male’ and noted the atmosphere to be orderly, cheerful and professional.

The EC has declared the elections free and fair, although it has acknowledged the validity of many complaints.

“There were some complaints of election observers campaigning [at the ballot box], and there were also complaints that even some election officials were showing an inclination towards a particular party,” Fayaz said.

Elections Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq acknowledged to newspaper Haveeru that while the commission had searched for impartial elections officials, “we were not able to find the required amount of officials who do not belong to a political party.”

He also confirmed that the commission was investigating reports that officials had been threatened at some polling stations by elections observers, in an effort to influence the election.

Such incidents were sporadic, Fayaz said, however across the country the commission grappled with disgruntled ‘assistant’ voters, mostly friends and family members seeking to accompany elderly voters to the ballot box.

“We decided that only those who legally required assistance would be permitted to vote in this way, and that became a big issue,” Fayaz said.

“The problem is that the law says [votes can be assisted] only when a person has an illness or physical disability that leaves unable to use their hands. The culture and the practice has been for elderly voters to be assisted by friends and family, but this time we said no. It caused complaints because in the past people have been able to vote like this.”

Major disruption occurred on Kelaa in Haa Alif Atoll, an island of approximately 2200 people, when clashes between islanders, police and election officials forced authorities to evacuate the ballot box to Hanimadhoo.

“Officials were a little slow with the voting and as result of several small hiccups, we heard that there were too many people still waiting to vote (by the 4pm deadline),” Fayaz said.

“We said we did not mind if they stayed open until 8pm or even 10pm so that everybody could vote, but [the situation escalated]. I think one of the reasons was that the officials were not experienced in dealing with such situations,” he said.

Reports in Haveeru suggested that over 600 people may have been unable to vote after the polls closed on the island. Fayaz said the EC had counted the Kelaa votes and recorded interim results.

“So far we have not decided to hold a re-election, but we are ready to do so if a court rules this is required,” he said.

Election observers from the Commonwealth Secretariat are preparing a report on the election.

Political Affairs Officer Alison Pearman said she was unable to comment on the election as it was outside the mandate of the small team of observers, but said the report for the Secretary General would likely be passed to the Elections Commission.

Likes

(0)Dislikes

(0)