Campaign spokesperson for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Afshan Latheef, has said that the most recent Supreme Court ruling was specifically targeted at the party.

She said this after the Supreme Court had ruled to dismiss an article of the Political Parties Act today. As such, the Supreme Court had declared that any candidates who have lost in party Primary elections will be able to run in the Parliamentary elections.

Afshan said this during a press conference held by MDP today and expressed the party’s shock at this ruling by the Supreme Court.

She noted that while MDP is the only political party to conduct a primary election, it is clear that this ruling is targeting the party.

The campaign spokesperson reiterated that MDP will take an official stand on the matter following discussions with party leadership officials.

Afshan was posed with a question by a journalist whether MDP will take measures against any candidate that runs in the election after a loss in party primaries. She had said in response that there are previously established internal mechanisms, rules and regulations that exist within the party. As such, Afshan said that measures will be taken against those that run in election against these regulations.

The MDP campaign spokesperson added that the party does not believe that the Parliamentary elections need to be delayed due to this Supreme Court ruling. She said on the other hand, that delaying the date of the Parliamentary elections will give way to the spread of discord and labelled it as an act of imposing undue influence on voters.

The Supreme Court has declared that the law stating that candidates who lost in primaries can run for Parliament is against the Constitution.

As such, Supreme Court has declared that any candidates who have lost in the party Primary elections will be able to run in the Parliamentary elections.

The Supreme Court ordered the Elections Commission to accept any submissions for candidacy that take place before 4:00 pm on 4 March 2019. As per the Supreme Court ruling, this includes any candidate who has submitted a form to run in the Parliamentary elections after a loss in party primaries.

Elections Commission has said in response that the date of the Parliamentary election will remain unchanged even with the Supreme Court ruling.