Govt didn’t inform any foreign state or agency on a definite decision for early polls- President’s Spokesperson

President Waheed’s spokesperson, Abaas Adil Riza has said that the government had not informed any foreign government or international agency on a definite decision for early elections. He was refuting a claim by opposition leader Nasheed that President Waheed’s government had informed the Indian government by letter that they (the government) were working towards early elections. 

“It is a categorical lie. The Maldivian government has not given any guarantees of early polls to anyone. We are continuously maintaining that a date for election will be decided by all the political parties. The President’s road map of national unity highlights the issue as a last point. If all the political parties reach a joint decision to hold early elections, then, we will go ahead with it.”, Riza said. He continued on to say that the government’s position in the talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Mathai also was that if all political parties agree to an early election, the government will go ahead with it.

“Therefore we are continuing with the deliberations. Outside of the discussions, we have not made any decision”, Riza said. He also said that President Waheed will welcome any joint decision of all political parties on the issue.

Riza did not bring to light any constitutional constraints or a requirement to revise the constitution as explicitly being underscored by legal experts on the issue.