29th October 2008
The Elections Commission has announced the provisional results of the Presidential election run-off held yesterday.
According to the Elections Commission, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, leader of the Maldives Democratic Party received 97,222 votes, while Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the incumbent President and leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party received 82,121 votes. Between Mr. Nasheed and President Gayoom, the figures translate into 54.21% and 45.79% respectively of the total valid votes cast in the poll yesterday.
The Commission said that 181,204 Maldivians or 85% of the eligible 209,294 voters had cast their ballots in the run-off. The Commission , however, noted that 1,861 votes were considered invalid.
President Gayoom heralded an era of democratic change in the Maldives with the launching of his democratic reform agenda in 2004 which he has rigorously pursued following a roadmap announced in 2006. The new constitution, which he ratified on 7th August 2008, prescribes a clear system of separation of powers, introduces a presidential system of governance with multiparty elections, creates a number of independent constitutional bodies such as a civil service commission, a human rights commission, an anti-corruption commission, a judicial service commission, an independent auditor-general, a prosecutor general as well as a parliament with strong oversight powers.
President Gayoom’s current term in office will end on 11th November 2008.
