Editorial
A.S.I. Moosa (Sappe'), Editor-in-Chief, Dhivehi Observer, 3 March 2008
There is no doubt that the politics in the Maldives is going through a complete face-lift since the introduction of multi-party system in 2005. Contrary to the old ways, we now have a say in who should lead our respective parties and eventually who should lead the nation. Of course, the Dictator will try his best to rig the elections but even that chance is now limited. In any case, it would be difficult for him to conduct it on the same scale as in the past.
As many of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leaders assert, the choice for the people now is not to elect a specific person to run the country, rather to assign that responsibility to a specific party. However, it is important that the party members elect a formidable leader through its own primaries and internal election. It is imperative that the party leader or candidate we choose to fight the presidential election is a person who embodies all the values that unite us as a group.
Old habits die hard. In the past, voting is just taken as a routine exercise and everyone knows that the regime of Dictator Gayyoom fiddles with both the votes and the final results. In the past, formidable opposition is caste aside way before the polling day and public funds and assets are misused to get the candidates backed by the regime to emerge as victorious. Fortunately, things have changed now to a certain degree that for the first time in Maldivian history, people have a glimmer of hope that there could be fairer elections.
So, for the MDP members who will choose their presidential candidate shortly, it is essential to assess the qualities of the contesting candidates before making their decision. Don't vote just because someone tells you to vote. Instead make sure that you personally weigh and assess the candidates before casting your vote. In a democracy, your vote is the most powerful right and so it must be exercised wisely and responsibly. Does the candidate have a clear identification of the key economic and social problems of the country? Does he have a workable policy on how he would resolve these issues? Does the candidate have the integrity and competence in undertaking the role of the leader of a country?
The ongoing campaigning by the presidential hopefuls within the MDP is a very healthy democratic process. Each camp will do their best to expose the weaknesses of the other while promoting their own strengths, and this information will then be available for the members who will have the opportunity to assess it and to make their final decision. If we had just one candidate, presumed leader of the party and presidential candidate from day one, we would have missed out on the opportunity of experiencing this important democratic process.
Choosing your leader is your responsibility so exercise that in the best interest of the country as well as your party.
