Report: Soodh
Minister of Legal Reform Information and Arts Mohamed Nasheed has said that his amendment proposed to bar any Maldivian with a foreign spouse from competing for the presidency was not proposed with specific intention of preventing Dr. Hassan Saeed from running for the presidency. Minister Nasheed further said that he has no wish to impose any constitutional barrier to prevent Dr. Hassan Saeed from competing in the elections.Minister Nasheed made the comment at a news conference held at Television Maldives in response to the meeting at Dharubaaruge by the main opposition party MDP and the subsequent press briefing held immediately after the meeting.
Nasheed said that he did not propose the amendment with the intent of preventing Dr. Hassan Saeed from competing for presidency but the amendment was proposed due to his patriotism and his dislike of the country’s first lady being a foreigner.
“The reason for the proposal is that I don’t want a foreigner to be the first lady, I want the first couple, first lady and the president to be Maldivian” said Legal Reform Minister.
Minister Nasheed said he is withdrawing his proposal as he has no wish for the government to be criticized by the people because of his proposal.
“Because of my proposal many are taking it as government’s point of view, so I just want to let you know, despite my opinion on the issue, I have no wish for the government to be blamed, so today I am making the announcement that I am withdrawing my proposal” said Nasheed withdrawing his amendment.
Minister Nasheed further said that he would like to see Dr. Hassan Saeed being part of the presidential race. Nasheed further said he would not impose any constitutional barrier between Dr. Hassan Saeed and his dream of wining the presidency.
Dr. Hassan Saeed in a press conference given at his office yesterday morning, said Minister Nasheed had proposed two amendments to the Majlis to prevent him from competing in the presidential race. According to Dr. Hassan Saeed the two amendments are to disqualify anybody from competing if he is married to a foreigner and second amendment is to bar people under the age of 40 from competing in the presidential elections. When questioned by a member of the press on these two amendments Nasheed replied that age barrier was not proposed by him or by any member of the DRP.
Responding to Dr. Hassan Saeed’s comments on the foreign pressure on President Gayoom not to stand election, Minister Nasheed said foreign countries do not interfere in Maldivian internal matters. Nasheed further said that no foreign country or foreign dignitary has issued a statement asking President Gayoom not to stand election.
Dr. Hassan Saeed and his collogue Dr. Shaheed had said that Minister Nasheed’s amendments were in conflict with International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR, which Maldives has recently ratified. However Minister Nasheed said that his amendment does not conflict ICCPR. Nasheed also noted that there are many such issues of conflict in the Bill on the President in the existing constitution.
MP Aneesa Ahmed who supported Minister Nasheed’s amendment speaking at the conference said even though Nasheed withdrew his amendment, there were other members of DRP who has proposed the same amendment.
The conference in addition to Minister Nasheed and Minister Aneesa was participated by Attorney General Azima Shukoor.
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