Gasim calls on Dr Waheed to seek Supreme Court opinion on continueing as President after 11 November

Jumhoory Party presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim has called on incumbent President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik to seek an opinion from the Supreme Court over staying in power after the constitutional end-of-term deadline of 11 November 2013.

Speaking at a Jumhoory Coalition event in Dharubaaruge Tuesday night, Gasim said the President should seek an opinion from the Supreme Court, as he has sought the opinion of the parliament for ways to solve the legal implications of not having a president-elect by November 11.

“I would tell President Waheed, why not write to the Supreme Court for an opinion based on the constitution, just as he wrote to the parliament?” Gasim said.

Last Wednesday President Waheed wrote to the parliament asking the parliament to take the initiative to make interim arrangements if a president-elect is not determined at the end of the current presidential term on November 11, as per Article 111 of the Constitution.

The parliament on Sunday passed a resolution submitted by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), allowing the powers of the president and the Vice President to be transferred to the Speaker of the Parliament, if the country fails to elect a president by the deadline.

Gasim on Tuesday said it is important to have a sitting president to guarantee that a fair and impartial election is conducted and called on President Waheed, on behalf of Jumhoory Coalition, to remain in power until the country elects a president. For the country to uphold its peace and stability, it is necessary, he said.

“Jumhoory Coalition will not have any animosity for, and is ready to join hands and work with any president that come to power through a fair election,” Gasim said.