Primary losers allowed to contest
The Supreme Court struck down a prohibition in the political parties law.
25 Feb 2019, 9:00 AM
The Supreme Court has struck down amendments brought to the political parties law in 2013 that barred losers of primary elections from contesting as independent candidates.
The constitutionality of the provisions was challenged by former lawmaker Abdulla Jabir after he lost the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s primary for the Kaashidhoo constituency.
Jabir, a resort owner and special envoy of the president, was soundly defeated by a 35-point margin.
The Supreme Court ordered the Elections Commission to allow primary losers to submit candidacy papers until March 4. The deadline to contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections expired last week.
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