Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form:
Maldives
local long form:
Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form:
Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name:
Male
geographic coordinates:
4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference:
UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 municipality*; Dhekunu (South), Maale*, Mathi Dhekunu (Upper South), Mathi Uthuru (Upper North), Medhu (Central), Medhu Dhekunu (South Central), Medhu Uthuru (North Central), Uthuru (North)
Independence:
26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:
many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 (2010)
Legal system:
Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
:
chief of state:
President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL Ahmed (since 17 November 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (since 17 November 2013); Vice President Mohamed JAMEEL Ahmed (since 17 November 2013)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president
elections:
president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the election held on 7 September 2013 was annulled by the Supreme Court; rerun of first round held on 9 November 2013 and runoff held on 16 November (next election to be held in 2018)
election results:
first round (9 November 2013); percent of vote - Mohamed NASHEED 46.9%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom 29.7%, Qasim IBRAHIM 23.3%; runoff (postponed to 16 November 2013); percent of vote - Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom elected president 51.4%, Mohamed NASHEED 48.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (85 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Elections Commission in December 2013 increased the number of seats to 85 from 77
elections:
last held on 22 March 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
election results:
percent of vote - PPM 40%, MDP 28.2%, JP 18.8%, MDA 5.9%, other 1.2%, independents 5.9%; seats by party - PPM 33, MDP 26, JP 15, MDA 5, other 1, independents 5
Judicial branch:
highest court(s):
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a separate 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:
High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)
Political parties and leaders:
note:
political parties with an asterisk were dissolved on 7 February 2014 by the Elections Commission under the Political Parties Act, which requires a minimum membership; the status of these parties is unresolved, as the Supreme Court later ruled the dissolution invalid
Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA]
Dhivehi Qaumee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]*
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP
Gaumee Itthihaad Party (National Unity Party) or GIP [Mohamed WAHEED]
Islamic Democratic Party or IDP*
Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed SIYAM]
Maldives National Congress or MNC [Ali AMJAD]*
Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Mohamed MUNAWWAR]
Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Reeko Moosa MANIKU]
Maldivian Labor Party or MLP [Ahmed MOOSA]*
Maldivian Social Democratic Party or MSDP [Reeko Ibrahim MANIKU]*
Meedhu Dhaaira
People's Alliance or PA [Moosa ZAMEERI]*
People's Party or PP [Ahmed RIYAZ]*
Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP
Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]
Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM]
Social Liberal Party or SLP [Mazian RASHEED]*
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other:
various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:
ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ahmed SAREER (since 11 January 2013)
chancery:
800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
[1] (212) 599-6194
FAX:
[1] (212) 599-6195
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, currently Ambassador Michele J. SISON, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits
Flag description:
red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam
National symbol(s):
coconut palm, yellowfin tuna
National anthem:
name:
"Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute)
lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"