The Maldives government urged all political parties to accept a Supreme Court ruling throwing out the result of last month’s presidential election and vowed that balloting next week will be transparent. The government said it is seeking the support of other nations and international organizations in holding the new election, and encouraged “everyone concerned to respect and abide by the Supreme Court ruling.” The Elections Commission announced Tuesday that the revote will be held Oct. 19. On Monday, the court annulled the results of the first round of voting in the presidential election, agreeing with a losing candidate that the vote was flawed.
The election had been hailed as free and fair by the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States and neighboring India. The decision to annul the vote threatens to exacerbate the political crisis in the island nation, which held its first multi-party election in 2008 after 30 years of autocratic rule.
The government pledged a “peaceful and transparent” new election and “a smooth transfer of power,” according to a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website Monday night.
Full Article: Maldives urges all political parties to accept new presidential election, vows transparency – The Washington Post.
