The People’s National Front (PNF) logo cannot be used on the ballot paper despite permission for candidates backed by former President Abdulla Yameen to use the PNF logo in their campaigns for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Elections Commission (EC) has said.
EC Secretary General Hassan Zakariyya told Adhadhu that the printing of ballot papers has now started.
“Work on printing ballot papers for the Majlis election has now started. So even if we were able to give permission as they requested to use the logo, there won’t be any opportunity now to put the logo on the ballot paper,” Hassan said.
Despite authorization for PNF to register, it has not yet officially registered as a political party, Hassan noted. It will take time to hold the party’s inaugural congress after the signatures needed to form the party are submitted to the EC, he added.
“For example, even if they submit enough forms to create the party next week, it will still take about two weeks to hold the party’s first general meeting,” Hassan said.
The name of Yameen’s eldest son, Zein Abdulla Yameen, was proposed to the EC as the founder of the new party that the former President is attempting to set up. Senior members of the party asked the EC on Thursday to print the PNF logo next to the names of candidates contesting for Parliament with President Yameen’s support.
President Yameen left the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) after disagreements within the ruling coalition. However, candidates endorsed by Yameen submitted their candidacy papers to contest as independents.
Senior members active in creating the party had previously asked the EC as well to print the PNF logo on ballot papers with Yameen’s candidates. However, the EC declined the request as the PNF has yet to be formally registered as a political party.
Candidates backed by Yameen are contesting in 40 constituencies in the upcoming People's Majlis elections.
