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Nasheed wins first round of Maldives’ presidential election
Former President Mohammed Nasheed has emerged as a clear leader in the first round of the Maldives’ presidential election receiving 45 per cent votes but fell short of an outright majority resulting in another round of run-off between top two candidates scheduled later month.
The Election Commission here announced results early Sunday after a nightlong counting, declaring Mr. Nasheed a clear winner in the first round of polls with 95,224 votes.
Mr. Nasheed was followed by Abdullah Yameen, brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, who received 25.35 per cent votes (53,099), Gasim Ibrahim with 24.07 per cent (50,422) and present incumbent Waheed Hassan with 5.13 per cent (10,750).
Over 88 per cent votes were cast during the elections.
“These are preliminary results. We will be getting ballot papers from various islands in two days and if required corrections would be made by September 14 after which final results will be announced. But these corrections are not likely to have major impact on the results,” Election Commission president Fuwad Taufeek said.
Under the country’s election laws, if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place between the top two candidates.
If final results do not bring much change, Mr. Nasheed will be facing a September 28 run-off against Mr. Yameen.
On the alleged irregularities at some counting stations, the Election Commissioner said they have received complaints but it has not taken any decision on recount on any ballot.
Mr. Taufeek said if any party approaches court and gets a decision, they would be open for a recount in front of representatives of all the parties.
India has been engaging with both the candidates — Mr. Nasheed and Mr. Yameen — who are likely to contest for the second round, much before the elections.
Both the leaders have recently visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring full support, sources said here. Former President Abdul Gayoom had also visited New Delhi in June.
India, which shares close ties with the archipelago nation, is the of the view that multi-party democracy is in a very nascent stage and should be given time to deepen its roots here, they said.
First multi-party free elections were held in Maldives in 2008 after three-decades of Mohammed Abdul Gayoom’s rule in which Mr. Nasheed won.
He had to resign after four years after security forces joined protests led by the opposition parties over the arrest of a judge. Mr. Nasheed’s ouster resulted in the elevation of then Vice-President Mohammed Waheed as his successor.
Over 2,229 local observers, 102 international observers, 1,343 representatives of political parties besides 1,642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk’s eye on the developments in this young multi-party democracy.
Nasheed wins first round of Maldives
@WebMaster @Aeronaut @jangibaaz @nuclearpak
please make this a sticky thread where one can discuss all the news related to Maldives vote..
Maldives presidential election goes to second round
The presidential elections in the Maldives will go to a second round after frontrunner Mohamed Nasheed failed to win an outright majority.
Mohamed Nasheed obtained 45% but needed more than 50% to avoid a run-off against his rival, Abdulla Yameen, who got 25% of the vote.
After decades of autocratic rule, the Maldives held its first free election in 2008, which was won by Mr Nasheed.
But he was ousted as president 18 months ago in an alleged coup.
Officials said the run-off was due to be held on 28 September.
Mr Nasheed's rival, Abudalla Yameen, is the half-brother of the Maldives' former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who led the country for 30 years.
'Credible and peaceful'
Mr Nasheed resigned in February 2012 when army and police personnel joined opposition-led protests over the arrest of a senior judge.
The judge, Abdulla Mohamed, was detained in January 2012 after ordering the release of an opposition politician.
Mr Nasheed said he was stepping down to prevent "bloodshed", but later said he was forced to resign at gunpoint by police and army officers.
He was replaced by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who had also been running in Saturday's election but polled only 5% of the vote.
Mr Waheed has consistently rejected claims of a coup by Nasheed supporters.
The leadership change sparked political unrest, leading to fears that the protests would have an impact on the islands' tourism industry.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said last week that he hoped the elections would be "credible and peaceful".
Key issues for voters included religion, nationalism, education and the economy.
Thoriq Hamid, a representative of poll monitoring group Transparency Maldives, said that the campaigning had been conducted "smoothly and peacefully".
However, there was still "some apprehension and confidence issues about the security forces", he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23983948
Former President Mohammed Nasheed has emerged as a clear leader in the first round of the Maldives’ presidential election receiving 45 per cent votes but fell short of an outright majority resulting in another round of run-off between top two candidates scheduled later month.
The Election Commission here announced results early Sunday after a nightlong counting, declaring Mr. Nasheed a clear winner in the first round of polls with 95,224 votes.
Mr. Nasheed was followed by Abdullah Yameen, brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, who received 25.35 per cent votes (53,099), Gasim Ibrahim with 24.07 per cent (50,422) and present incumbent Waheed Hassan with 5.13 per cent (10,750).
Over 88 per cent votes were cast during the elections.
“These are preliminary results. We will be getting ballot papers from various islands in two days and if required corrections would be made by September 14 after which final results will be announced. But these corrections are not likely to have major impact on the results,” Election Commission president Fuwad Taufeek said.
Under the country’s election laws, if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place between the top two candidates.
If final results do not bring much change, Mr. Nasheed will be facing a September 28 run-off against Mr. Yameen.
On the alleged irregularities at some counting stations, the Election Commissioner said they have received complaints but it has not taken any decision on recount on any ballot.
Mr. Taufeek said if any party approaches court and gets a decision, they would be open for a recount in front of representatives of all the parties.
India has been engaging with both the candidates — Mr. Nasheed and Mr. Yameen — who are likely to contest for the second round, much before the elections.
Both the leaders have recently visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring full support, sources said here. Former President Abdul Gayoom had also visited New Delhi in June.
India, which shares close ties with the archipelago nation, is the of the view that multi-party democracy is in a very nascent stage and should be given time to deepen its roots here, they said.
First multi-party free elections were held in Maldives in 2008 after three-decades of Mohammed Abdul Gayoom’s rule in which Mr. Nasheed won.
He had to resign after four years after security forces joined protests led by the opposition parties over the arrest of a judge. Mr. Nasheed’s ouster resulted in the elevation of then Vice-President Mohammed Waheed as his successor.
Over 2,229 local observers, 102 international observers, 1,343 representatives of political parties besides 1,642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk’s eye on the developments in this young multi-party democracy.
Nasheed wins first round of Maldives
@WebMaster @Aeronaut @jangibaaz @nuclearpak
please make this a sticky thread where one can discuss all the news related to Maldives vote..
Maldives presidential election goes to second round
The presidential elections in the Maldives will go to a second round after frontrunner Mohamed Nasheed failed to win an outright majority.
Mohamed Nasheed obtained 45% but needed more than 50% to avoid a run-off against his rival, Abdulla Yameen, who got 25% of the vote.
After decades of autocratic rule, the Maldives held its first free election in 2008, which was won by Mr Nasheed.
But he was ousted as president 18 months ago in an alleged coup.
Officials said the run-off was due to be held on 28 September.
Mr Nasheed's rival, Abudalla Yameen, is the half-brother of the Maldives' former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who led the country for 30 years.
'Credible and peaceful'
Mr Nasheed resigned in February 2012 when army and police personnel joined opposition-led protests over the arrest of a senior judge.
The judge, Abdulla Mohamed, was detained in January 2012 after ordering the release of an opposition politician.
Mr Nasheed said he was stepping down to prevent "bloodshed", but later said he was forced to resign at gunpoint by police and army officers.
He was replaced by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who had also been running in Saturday's election but polled only 5% of the vote.
Mr Waheed has consistently rejected claims of a coup by Nasheed supporters.
The leadership change sparked political unrest, leading to fears that the protests would have an impact on the islands' tourism industry.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said last week that he hoped the elections would be "credible and peaceful".
Key issues for voters included religion, nationalism, education and the economy.
Thoriq Hamid, a representative of poll monitoring group Transparency Maldives, said that the campaigning had been conducted "smoothly and peacefully".
However, there was still "some apprehension and confidence issues about the security forces", he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23983948
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