Submission of application for presidential election to open on 15th July

Elections Commission has announced that the submission of applications to contest in the upcoming presidential elections will be open starting from the 15th of July 2013.

President of Election Commission Fuad Thaufeeq told Sun today that the law on presidential elections states that the submission of applications shall be open 120 days prior to the day of expiry of the presidential term, and that the date falls on the 15th of July 2013.

Article 5 (a) of the Maldives Presidential Elections Act requires the Elections Commission to announce for applications 120 days prior to the expiry of the term of office of the present President. It allows a 10 day period starting from the 120 day count for the Elections Commission to make the call for applications.

Fuad said that the Commission has assembled the new regulation on presidential elections, which will be published soon. He said that the regulation will state the guidelines that should be kept in check by the candidates, parties monitoring the elections, and others that are directly related to the elections.

Polling day for the presidential election falls on the 7th of September 2013. A total of 5 candidates have announced their interest to compete this year including; Leader of Gaumee Ithihad Party (GIP) and current President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, Leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former President Mohamed Nasheed, Parliamentary Group Leader for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Yameen, Jumhoory Party (JP) Leader Gasim Ibrahim, and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.