Maldives president proposes fresh presidential vote to end political infighting

Maldives President Mohamed Waheed on Monday earmarked 2 Nov. as a possible date for a third attempt to have presidential elections and reiterated that he will step down on Nov. 11 whether or not a new president is elected, local media reported. Speaking during the first press conference after suffering a humiliating defeat in the now annulled first round of presidential polls held last month, President Waheed said he had suggested to the Elections Commission holding the re-vote on Nov. 2 and the runoff a week later. Waheed has insisted that he had not lost hope of holding the polls before the constitutional deadline of 11 November, according to local media outlet Haveeru. However, the president said even if the poll is held on Nov. 9 as proposed by the Elections Commission, the commission must ensure that the election is free, fair and inclusive. If polls are held on Nov. 9 and if it goes to a runoff second round then "I don't know what to do," Waheed said. "I'm not the one who should make that decision," he said, adding the Supreme Court and the Parliament must consider that scenario. Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Sunday had agreed to keep president Waheed in power if his successor is not elected by the constitutional deadline of Nov.11. When asked in that regard, the president said, "I will not consider my position based on the request by a single political party." President Waheed who withdrew his candidacy from the fresh polls, insisted that national harmony was not the sole responsibility of the president. The state must be run by the three powers together, he said. Third place Jumhoory Party (JP) presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim has called for action against the Elections Commission even if it means declaring a state of emergency, but Waheed feels this is not the time to take action against them. "I believe there is still a chance for everyone to work together. We have faced difficult times before. By God's will, we have managed to work through those tough times. We can do it again. " According to the president, discord over a polls date was not a legal issue but a political one. "Political disputes must be settled by political leaders. So the three people who have to take leadership in national interest are the ones who are contesting for the presidency. The responsibility to resolve this lies with those three candidates. Anyone who is willing to shed blood of the people would not be a person to lead this country. So there is still a chance. A solution can be found," he said. President Waheed has been trying to push a date for the polls after the police had forced the postponement of Saturday's fresh presidential polls following the Supreme Court's annulment of the previous round held last month, Police had said it stopped the Elections Commission from going ahead with the polls in light of a perceived threat to national stability if the polls were held in violation of the Supreme Court guideline. Waheed has since met members of the Elections Commission to set a new date for re-vote and had mediated a sit-down with political parties. Elections Commission has now proposed to hold the polls on Nov. 9 but is yet to get the approval of the candidates to do so.