Maldives President calls for successful election

Ahead of a crucial presidential poll tomorrow, Maldives President Mohamed Waheed has asked the people to ensure a successful election and realign their focus from individuals to that of the entire nation.
Waheed, who came to power after the first democratically elected President Nasheed was removed under duress in February last year, asked all citizens to ensure a successful election by exercising their right to vote. He also called on everyone to accept the election result.
The President said that all citizens must prioritise national peace and harmony over other interests.
"Our patriotic duties and adherence to democratic principles must take precedence over everything else and that we must realign our focus from individuals to that of the entire nation," he said in a televised address.

He said the result of a democratic election would be the will of the majority.
"Democracy is the will of the majority. Nonetheless, democracy is not a perfect system. Of all the existing forms of government, democracy is believed to be the best form of government by the majority of people," Waheed said.

He said attaining democracy and new freedoms should not mean that we must abandon the good values in our society.
He said that as the Maldives became a democracy much later than most other democratic countries in the world, the country would have the benefit of learning paths taken by those countries to become a democratic nation.

Waheed is one of the four candidates contesting the elections.
Others including his predecessor Mohammed Nasheed, brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, Abdulla Yameed and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.