Maldivians with asylum overseas barred from running for president
Amendments to electoral laws were voted through with only 34 out of 85 MPs present.
04 Jul 2018, 9:00 AM
Maldivians who have sought asylum overseas or relinquished dual citizenship have been barred from running for president for 10 years.
The restriction was imposed in amendments to electoral laws passed at Wednesday’s sitting of parliament.
It targets former president Mohamed Nasheed and Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, who have secured asylum in the UK and Germany. Neither will be eligible until 10 years after relinquishing asylum.
With the exiled leaders also unable to contest in September’s election due to criminal convictions, the opposition coalition has agreed to field Maldivian Democratic Party MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih with a JP running mate.
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