Amidst internal turmoil within the Elections Commission (EC), Chairman Fuad Thaufeeg has declared that he will not step down from his position, defying a symbolic no-confidence vote cast by some of the commissioners.
The dispute within the EC came to light when two commissioners expressed the need for further scrutiny of the membership forms submitted by The Democrats before granting the party permission to break away, under the leadership of Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
Commissioner Ali Nashath accused Chairman Fuad of rushing to approve The Democrats’ registration, a claim that Fuad vehemently denied. As a result of these disagreements, the approval process for The Democrats’ registration faced a month-long delay, with the party finally being allowed to register on July 2.
Following The Democrats’ registration, three out of the four attending commissioners passed a no-confidence motion against Chairman Fuad Thaufeeg. The three commissioners were identified as Ali Nashath, Dr. Mohamed Zahir, and Mohamed Asif.
In response to the no-confidence vote, Fuad Thaufeeg asserted that the commissioners lack the authority to remove him from his position, dismissing the motion as legally insignificant. Speaking to media on Monday, Fuad maintained his stance, stating that the vote would not impact his position or his commitment to his responsibilities.
“It was completely pointless, has no weight at all,” he asserted, clearly undeterred by the motion.
Meanwhile, Vice Chair Ismail Habeeb has taken on the role of chairing the EC sittings after the three commissioners expressed their lack of confidence in Fuad Thaufeeg’s leadership.
When asked to address the situation, Fuad emphasized that he is running the commission in strict adherence to the law and regulations. He assured that members with differing opinions are being given ample space for their perspectives to be heard.
Despite the no-confidence vote, Fuad Thaufeeg, who is serving his second term as EC Chairman, remains steadfast in his position, stating, “I won’t resign. If a court or parliament decides to remove me, then I will step down. Otherwise, I will continue to fulfill my duties.”
According to Section 10 of the Elections Commission Act, there are only two circumstances under which the position of the commission’s president would become vacant: either if the commissioner loses their position on the commission or if they voluntarily resign. The law dictates that the EC chair is appointed through a vote among the commissioners, and only the parliament possesses the authority to dismiss members from the commission.
