Politics of the Maldives (original) (raw)

A 1968 referendum approved the constitution making Maldives a republic with executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The constitution was amended in 1970, 1972, and 1975 and is again under revision.

Ibrahim Nasir, Prime Minister under the pre-1968 sultanate, became President and held office from 1968 to 1978. He was succeeded by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was elected President in 1978 and reelected in 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998.

The president heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet. Nominated to a 5-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis (parliament), the president must be confirmed by a national referendum.

The unicameral Majlis is composed of 48 members serving 5-year terms. Two members from each atoll and Male are elected directly by universal suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president.

The Maldivian legal system--derived mainly from traditional Islamic law--is administered by secular officials, a chief justice, and lesser judges on each of the 19 atolls, who are appointed by the president and function under the Ministry of Justice. There also is an attorney general. Each inhabited island within an atoll has a chief who is responsible for law and order. Every atoll chief, appointed by the president, functions as a district officer in the British South Asian tradition.

Maldives has no organized political parties. Candidates for elective office run as independents on the basis of personal qualifications.

On November 8, 1988, Sri Lankan Tamil mercenaries tried to overthrow the Maldivian Government. At President Gayoom's request, the Indian military suppressed the coup attempt within 24 hours.

Country name:
_conventional long form:_Republic of Maldives
_conventional short form:_Maldives
_local long form:_Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa (Dhivehi (requires Unicode Thaana support): ހިވެދި ގުޖޭއްރާ ޔާއްރިހޫމްޖު)
_local short form:_Dhivehi Raajje (Dhivehi: ހިވެދި ޖްއްރާ)

**Data code:**MV

**Government type:**republic

**Capital:**Male (Dhivehi: ލެމަ)

**Administrative divisions:**19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

**Independence:**26 July 1965 (from UK)

**National holiday:**Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

**Constitution:**adopted January 1998

**Legal system:**based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

**Suffrage:**21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
_chief of state:_President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
_head of government:_President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
_cabinet:_appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majlis
_elections:_president nominated by the Majlis and then that nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
_election results:_President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.9%

**Legislative branch:**unicameral People's Council or Majlis (50 seats; 42 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
_elections:_last held 20 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2004)
_election results:_percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 42

**Judicial branch:**High Court

**Political parties and leaders:**although political parties are not banned, none exist

**International organization participation:**AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

**Diplomatic representation in the US:**Maldives does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

**Diplomatic representation from the US:**the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

**Flag description:**red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

See also : Maldives