Supreme Court of Maldives has ordered the contestants defeated from political party primaries cannot contest in the parliamentary election as candidates from the same political party.
On February 25, Supreme Court nullified the amendment to the Political Parties Act, which states persons defeated in party primaries cannot compete at the relevant elections. The case was filed by Abdulla Jabir and Abdulla Maniu Hussain. Of the two individuals, Jabir faced defeat in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primaries for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Concluding the case presided by the full strength of the bench, the Supreme Court ordered the electoral body to accept application papers of those who were defeated in the party primaries, but seeks to compete in the parliamentary elections independently, until March 4. However, Supreme Court ruled the candidate cannot run as a candidate from the political party from which they were defeated.
The verdict said candidates are declared by political parties within their party charter. Noting major 10 points, the order highlighted regulations and rules of the US and other democratic societies. In the order, Supreme Court expressed the clause banning candidates who fail primaries from contesting in the parliamentary elections was in violation of the Constitution of Maldives.
Meanwhile, Elections Commission (EC) has reopened application window for candidates seeking to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Candidates can submit forms before March 4. The parliamentary elections is scheduled for April 6, according to EC.