New Election Commission to be based on political parties - Nasheed

Minister of Legal Reform Information and Arts Mohamed Nasheeed has said that the new elections commission established under the new constitution would be based on all political parties.

Speaking to members of the press Minister Nasheed last Sunday said the new election commission would be a commission acceptable to all the political parties and will conform to international norms.

“What we have agreed is to establish a 5 member commission, political parties can propose names of members, out of which Majlis will select 5 members acceptable to them” said Minister Nasheed.

Minister Nasheed revealed that the Bill on Elections Commission is complete. He expressed hope to see the Commission being set up in the near future. He said it was important to have such an independent commission for open, free and fair elections.

“High ranking government officials on various occasions have stated that the government will do everything to ensure the presidential elections scheduled for this year are free fair and open, in the same spirit I would to like to say that establishing the Elections Commission would be the first step, the Election Commission’s Bill has been completed, we have already discussed the formula of the commission” said Minister Nasheed.

Legal Reform Minister Nasheed further said during the discussions held on the transitional arrangement, it was agreed that the names of the 5 members of the commission should be out of names proposed by political parties. He further said that this was a formula acceptable to all parties.