Politics of the Maldives
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The politics of the Maldives take place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet; he is nominated to a five-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis (parliament), a nomination which must be confirmed by national referendum.
The unicameral Majlis of the Maldives is composed of 50 members serving five-year terms. Two male members from each atoll are elected directly by universal suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president. Parties were not allowed until 2005 (after the elections).
The Maldivian legal system, derived mainly from traditional Islamic law, is administered by secular officials, a chief justice, and lesser judges on each of the 19 atolls, who are appointed by the president and function under the Ministry of Justice. There also is an attorney general. Each inhabited island within an atoll has a chief who is responsible for law and order. Every atoll chief, appointed by the president, functions as a district officer in the British South Asian tradition.
- See also: Constitution of Maldives
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[edit] History
A 1968 referendum approved a constitution making Maldives a republic with executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The constitution was amended in 1970, 1972, 1975, and 1997 and is again under revision.
Ibrahim Nasir, Prime Minister under the pre-1968 sultanate, became President and held office from 1968 to 1978. He was succeeded by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was elected President in 1978 and reelected in 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003.
On November 3, 1988, Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries tried to overthrow the Maldivian government. At President Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppressed the coup attempt within 24 hours. At present, he is the longest serving leader in Asia.
Since 2003 the country has experienced occasional anti-government demonstrations calling for political reforms. Political parties were allowed in June 2005.There are four parties registered in Maldives: the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party(DRP), the Islamic Democratic Party (Maldives) (IDP) and the Adhaalath Party, also known as the Justice Party (Maldives).The first party to register was the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headed by popular opposition figures such as Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and Mohamed Latheef (Gogo). The Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) headed by President Gayyoom was next.
The Maldives have scored poorly on some indices of freedom. The "Freedom in the World" index, a measure of political rights and civil liberties and published by Freedom House, judges Maldives as "not free", and the "Worldwide Press Freedom Index", published by Reporters Without Borders, lists Maldives as a "very serious situation" (a judgment also given to Libya, Cuba, and China).
Violent protests broke out in Malé on September 20, 2003 after Evan Naseem, a prisoner, was killed in Maafushi jail, after the most brutal torture, reportedly by prison staff. An attempt to cover up the death was foiled when the mother of the dead man discovered the marks of torture on his body and made the knowledge public, therefore triggering the riots. A subsequent disturbance at the prison resulted in three deaths when police guards at the prison opened fire on the inmates. Several government buildings were set on fire during the riots. As a result of pressure from reformists, the junior prison guards responsible for Naseem's death were subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced in 2005 in what was believed to be a show trial that avoided the senior officers involved being investigated. The report of an inquiry into the prison shootings was heavily censored by the Government, citing "national security" grounds. Pro-reformists claim this was in order to cover-up the chain of authority and circumstances that led to the killings.
There were fresh protests on August 13, 2004, (Black Friday), which appear to have begun as a demand for the release of four political activists from detention. Up to 5,000 demonstrators were involved. After two police officers were reportedly stabbed, allegedly by government agents provocateur, President Gayoom declared a State of Emergency and suppressed the demonstration, suspending all human rights guaranteed under the Constitution, banning demonstrations and the expression of views critical of the government. At least 250 pro-reform protestors were arrested. As part of the state of emergency, and to prevent independent reporting of events, the government shut off Internet access and some mobile telephony services to Maldives on August 13 and 14, 2004.
[edit] Executive branch
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Maumoon Abdul Gayoom | 11 November 1978 |
Note: the president is both the chief of state and head of government
[edit] Legislative branch
The Assembly (Majlis) has 50 members, 42 members elected for a term of five years in two-seat constituencies and 8 members appointed by the President.
[edit] Political parties and elections
On a national level, Maldives elects a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by parliament and confirmed in a referendum by the people. In this referendum on 17 October 2003, 90.3 % voted in favour of present-day president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (turnout 77 %). At the last parliamentary elections, 22 January 2005, only non-partisans have been elected. No legal parties exist. Out of the 42 elected parliamentaries, according to Adam Carr, 20 (32.3 % of popular vote) support the government and 18 (31.1 % of popular vote) are endorsed by the Maldivian Democratic Party.
| Candidates | Seats |
|---|---|
| Non-partisans supporting the government | 28 |
| Non-partisans endorsed by the Maldivian Democratic Party | 10 |
| Others | 2 |
| Appointed members | 8 |
| Total | 48 |
| Source: Adam Carr | |
The Maldivian parliament voted unanimously for the creation of a multiparty system on June 2, 2005. Prior to June 2005, the Maldivian political system was based around the election of individuals, rather than the more common system of election according to party platform. In June 2005, as part of an ongoing programme of democratic reform, new regulations were promulgated to formally recognised political parties within the framework of the electoral system. The Maldivian Democratic Party was already active. New parties include the Maldivian Peoples Party, the Islamic Democratic Party and the Adhaalath Party.
[edit] Judicial branch
The legal system is based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters. Maldives has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
[edit] Administrative divisions
20 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and one first-order administrative city*;Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Kaafu, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
[edit] International organization participation
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
