The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has suggested presidential election in the Maldives at the earliest. Like India, CMAG wants an election by the end of the year.
While the Maldivian government was lukewarm to the demand, the Maldivian Democratic Party to which the former President, Mohamed Nasheed, belongs has welcomed the CMAG statement.
Noting with regret that the Majlis had not been able to convene as scheduled on March 1, the CMAG said that it “continued to be strongly of the view that the earliest possible expression of the will of the people was required to establish universal faith in the legitimacy of those who govern the country”.
A few days before the People's Majlis is to meet, the CMAG said it wanted all political parties to engage in dialogue without delay, in earnest and in good faith with a view to achieving agreement on the date of early elections, and the processes required to do so, including any necessary constitutional amendments and supporting legislation.
The Commonwealth appointed Donald McKinnon as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy. He arrived in Maldives on Friday for discussions with the various players.
