Former president Mohamed Nasheed has said that the Supreme Court’s sentence upon the members of the Election Commission on Sunday has neutralized the powers of the constitution.
The court sentenced President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeg to six months in prison and sentenced to disqualify Fuad and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz as members of commission, for disparaging court procedures. Fuad’s prison sentence has been suspended for three years.
“Tonight we saw the [elections] commission neutralized, the commission’s president and vice president sentenced to jail, and the powers of the constitution of the Maldives neutralized,” Nasheed said, speaking at a campaign event in Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo for the upcoming parliamentary election.
“Supreme Court’s responsibility is to assist in the implementation of law and order in the country. It is not the responsibility of the Supreme Court to comment on how the people elect their officials,” the former president said.
Nasheed has also called his opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to take to the streets in protest against the Supreme Court's decision.