Presidential Address:
Election will be held in July 2013: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that if a presidential election is required prior to July 2013, changes need to be made in the constitution, and he will do everything in his power to bring together all political leaders to hold discussions on this matter.

Addressing the Parliament Assembly in this year’s first sitting of the first session amid protests and uproar by MDP members, the President said that now is the time for all of us to work together and in one spirit.

He said that this is the time to bring political differences to the discussion table in order to formulate solutions. The President expressed support to hold the presidential election according to the constitution in July 2013.

“If a presidential election is required at an earlier date, changes need to be made to the Constitution,” the President raised his voice in order to get himself heard amid the chaos.

The President said that his highest priority is to perform the duties of the President in line with the country’s Constitution and laws. He assured the people that no action against the Constitution or law will be taken. He will not interfere with the work of the judiciary, or the affairs of any institution granted independence by the Constitution or law. He assured that he will not order anyone to act against the Constitution or laws.

The President provided some details of the destruction caused during the political unrest on 8 February. Damage worth more than Rf 180 million was inflicted on courts, Island Councils, buildings under the care of these councils, homes and property of citizens, and police stations.

“The lost archived records of the people of Addu, maintained by the institutions of the Judiciary in Addu City, are immeasurable,” the President said.

The President also said that work needs to be done to strengthen the institutions created by the constitution, to uphold and sustain the principles mentioned in the constitution, and to develop the necessary human resources and create laws required to implement the constitution.