Yameen’s Candidacy Case Filed in Supreme Court
Photo: The President’s Office
The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has formally appealed to the Supreme Court, urging the court to scrutinize the decision of the Maldives’ Election Commission (ECM) to reject former President Abdullah Yameen’s application for candidacy.
ނޫސް ބަޔާން
ރައީސް ޔާމީންގެ ކެންޑިޑަސީއާއި މެދު އިލެކްޝަންސް އިން ނިންމި ނިންމުން ބަލައި ނުގަންނަން. މައްސަލަ ސުޕްރީމް ކޯޓަށް ހުށަހެޅުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް މިދަނީ ކުރަމުން. pic.twitter.com/cixNquMBuS— Progressive Party of Maldives (@ProgressPartyMV) August 1, 2023advertisement
President Yameen’s candidacy was submitted and officially registered yesterday. However, the ECM subsequently chose not to validate Yameen’s candidacy, citing that he fails to meet the constitutional prerequisites necessary to participate in the forthcoming presidential race.
Yameen’s ongoing 11-year imprisonment following his conviction on charges of corruption, bribery, and money laundering makes his application ineligible to run. According to the constitutional criteria, a potential candidate is required to maintain an unblemished legal record, free from any criminal convictions that resulted in imprisonment exceeding 12 months within the last three years.
The General Elections Act mandates that any uncertainties pertaining to a candidate’s eligibility must be exclusively referred to the Supreme Court for resolution. This approach ensures that such disputes are settled within a seven-day period from the date of the initial appeal submission.
Furthermore, in line with the Constitution, the adjudication of such cases rests with a panel composed of all the justices of the Supreme Court, whose verdict shall be considered final.
