President Maumoon calls to delay Council Election

Former President of the Maldives and the President of the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has called to delay the Local Council Election set for 4 April to a later date to strengthen the government efforts against the COVID-19 Corona Virus.

Tagging the Elections Commission, the former President took to Twitter to make the statement.

So far 19 people have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the Maldives.

In keeping with the stringent measures in force to protect our people from the threat of #COVID2019 I would like to urge the government to delay local council elections to a later date. @ibusolih @ElectionsMv @MRM_Office

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) March 10, 2020

At a previous press conference regarding the pandemic, Tourim Minister, Ali Waheed said that the Local Council Election and the Women’s Development Committees elections will be delayed if it comes to it. At the time, Minister Waheed said that there is no cause for a delay based on the WHO standards.

MRM has 16 candidates running in the Local Council Election.

Political parties have put a hold on the campaign visits to the islands for the time being due to COVID-19.