- Title: Country file of Maldives ahead of presidential election on September 23
- Date: 21st September 2018
- Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (FILE - MARCH 19, 2018) (REUTERS) ****WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MALDIVIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER (AMBASSADOR) TO SRI LANKA HUSSAIN SHAREEF ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE SHAREEF SPEAKING ABOUT ARRESTED JUDGES SHAREEF ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS A senior Maldives diplomat said the government will lift a 45-day state of emergency and bring bribery charges
- Embargoed: 5th October 2018 03:03
- Keywords: Maldives country file timeline presidential election history
- Location: MALE, UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, AT SEA, MALDIVES / NEW DELHI, INDIA /COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- City: MALE, UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, AT SEA, MALDIVES / NEW DELHI, INDIA /COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- Country: Maldives
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00M8YL6S05
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Maldives presidential election will be held on September 23, 2018.
Current president Abdulla Yameen will be bidding for a second five-year term, while the opposition Democratic Party has put up veteran lawmaker Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed Solih as its presidential candidate.
The candidates are contesting the polls during an uncertain time in the Indian Ocean island nation. The Maldives, home to 400,000 people and best known as a tropical paradise for tourists, has experienced political unrests since former leader Mohamed Nasheed was forced to quit amid a mutiny by police in 2012.
Elections Commission chief Ahmed Shareef said the 2018 presidential poll will be held in "the most transparent and open" manner, with international observers invited to attend.
However, there remains widespread criticism of civil and political rights abuses by the current Yameen government, with opposition leaders either in exile or behind bars, and a crackdown on media and activists.
Maldives operate a two-round system, where a second round of voting will be held if no candidates receive a simple majority in the first polls. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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