Constitutional debate is vital to resolve the Maldives’ current political turmoil, but it should not dominate the agenda of the country’s politicians “to the exclusion of all else”, writes Dr Hassan Saeed for local newspaper Haveeru.
I have spent much of the last week in discussions about the National Enquiry Commission which of course has implications for the next Presidential election. And these are important issues. But their respective outcomes won’t by themselves solve all of our country’s problems. At present, ‘normal’ politics is on hold whilst differing interpretations of the events leading up to and including February 7 swamp any other political dialogue.
I have already written about the issues that I believe will dominate the next election campaign. I believe voters will want to know which candidate and which party is most likely to deliver economic security and a better standard of living for themselves and their families.
So whilst the constitutional debate is vital and must be resolved we simply cannot afford for it to continue to dominate our political agenda to the exclusion of all else.
Anybody who wants to lead a country in the future needs to be able to finish the sentence ‘I will bring peace, stability and prosperity, to the Maldives by the following actions…….‘
We need to be offered a convincing scenario that credibly describes how the Maldives might move forward as a united country.
Will the outcome of the National Enquiry Commission bring some sort of closure?
Well it should help but it won’t be enough by itself. The views of activists on either side of this debate are so polarised that it’s hard to see how this could heal the divide.
The divisions in our country involve our hearts as much as our rational minds. There are some who will never change their views no matter what the outcome of the National Enquiry Commission is.
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