In a month’s time on September 7 the eyes of the world will once again be on the Maldives. The second Presidential election will be a test not just of the island’s young democracy but also the statesmanship of its politicians.
How they behave and whether they are magnanimous in victory or defeat will be crucial to the Maldives’ status as a tourist destination and its standing in the world.
As a journalist I have had the privilege of visiting the islands over the last decade and have witnessed their transition from a dictatorship to a democracy and their struggles since to make that democracy work. In 2009 I reported on the first Presidential election for the international press and still remember the euphoria on the streets of Male’ which greeted the election of former President Nasheed and his coalition government. It was a great time to be a Maldivian because the country was filled with hope and optimism for the future.
Since those heady days however, I have reported on too many stories which have cast the Maldives in a bad light. The Swiss couple mocked during their wedding vows, the flogging of a 15-year old girl and the shutting down of the islands spas. But it has been the ongoing political protests and sporadic but very damaging violence on the streets of Male’ which have done the islands’ reputation abroad most harm.
The Maldives remains a beacon of hope for many Islamic countries around the world who would like to move to democracy. They will be following the election closely to see if the country’s politicians act responsibly. So will the UN, US, EU, Commonwealth, Indian and the Chinese governments. Each will be looking for a candidate who can unite the country and they can ‘do business with’.
It is therefore vital that the elections are free and fair and this is verified by independent election observers. Any violence, boycotts or protests has the potential not just to mar the election result but also inward investment and the islands’ vital tourism industry for years to come. The Chinese market, now the biggest source of visitors to the islands, is particularly sensitive to political unrest.
Whatever the controversy surrounding the transfer of power last February, the Maldives now has the opportunity to start again with a clean slate. I have met each of the candidates and they have a lot to offer. Former President Nasheed has experience and charisma, Gasim and Yameen are very successful businessmen who would be a new start and President Waheed has proved he can put together a unity government. They also all have very talented running mates. Dr Luthfy is an educational reformer, Dr Saeed and Dr Jameel have a wealth of experience in government and Thasmeen is a philanthropist and businessman. This is a great pool of talent which whoever wins the election can draw upon to help transform the islands’ future.
The test of their ability to work together and compromise could come soon after the election on September 7 if, as seems likely, there is no clear winner in the first round. Coalition governments can be strong governments if politicians work together in the national interest and not in their own interest.
Unfortunately, the Maldives does not have a good record of doing this over the last four years. The Maldivian people deserve better than a coalition of politicians who can come together to oppose someone but then cannot work together to run a successful government.
To reassure the Maldivian people each of them should now make a public pledge to work together in the national interest. This means saying nothing before or after the election to destabilise the Maldives democracy, economy or its international standing in the world. It also means showing their support for the tourism industry, tackling extremism and encouraging their supporters to give the winning candidate a chance.
The Maldives democracy is still very young but the second Presidential election will be a key test of whether all its politicians can act with restraint and maturity. Looking on will be an anxious international community who want to see a free and fair election and a strong government. Failure to deliver it risks further isolating the Maldives politically and economically.
When contemplating their future over the next month, each candidate would do well to remember Winston Churchill’s famous maxim about democracy: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”.
Nicholas Milton is a freelance journalist. He has reported on the Maldives for the last decade for the Guardian and Daily Telegraph newspapers. His website is www.nicholas-milton.com
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Magnanimity is for civilized people, be it opponents. Not for criminal Usurpers who got there through violent and undemocratic means.
thasmeen is no philandropist. He owes hundreds of millions to Bank of Maldives. Since the bank is yet to recover from his unpaid loans we Maldivians have hard time getting loans at reasonable interest rate
Really the only thing that Mordisians would not (or rather is afraid to) question is the religion.
Everything else is out for grabs.
No matter, how transparent, this election would not go well. Whoever who loses, would blame the ocean, if he can, to stir up a chaos of everything. CNN would report it, BBC, NNBC, Fox would all report it.
Its like when Umar got only 2 votes, in the previous elections. Even his wife and direct family did not vote for him, despite them vouching (under threat) in front of him. So, the elections, would be far from smooth, and all media would have their vulture eyes on, looking pieces of meat they can rip apart.
But, its all fun!!! the more violence the better, the more ranting the sweeter, the longer the charade the more entertainment... yes, this will be a good one!
Most Maldivians want a leader that will "work together in the national interest". However, most of the candidates have nothing but their self interest at heart. So it will be interesting to see what they do post Sept 7th, especially the candidates who lose the election.
Most Maldivians want a leader. Period. That's Nasheed
Most Maldivian want a leader but not Nasheed .
Nasheed is a failure and he is not leader and he is an activist .
he is good to be an activist and should remain as an activist.
kuribee, that's why Nasheed has our vote. He's an activist - he cares for us, the PEOPLE of Maldives.
Your drug addled brain may not understand this. You work for anyone who's willing to buy you one more gram of heroin.
"President Waheed has proved he can put together a unity government."
...
I dont know what your sources are, but their 'wide coalition' is a squabbling gang of thieves. I recommend you stop listening to their propaganda, and do some real journalism.
You sound like a class A - ass-ole Nick!
Nasheed is the only candidate that cares for the people and he has international statemanship. He has our vote too.
Doesn't want anything for himself,Nasheed. He wants everything for the Maldivian people.
This is a man who cares about the people, the poor, the weak, the disadvantaged and those who can't fend for themselves, for whatever reason. Nasheed is not a saint. But then, who is ?