Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2013-10-23-Speech-3-267-000"
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"en.20131023.33.3-267-000"2
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"Mr President, firstly I would just point out that one of the great political advantages for the Member States of European Union membership is the influence that we have through the European Union on these types of international issues. This is the reason why the Liberals and Democrats are the party of ‘in Europe’ and not ‘out of Europe’.
I think in Europe we can influence the world; in Europe we can defend our core liberal and democratic values – such as the clear separation of powers between the executive and the judicial institutions which we see in this case, and the fundamental right of people to democratic and fair elections.
I saw this in practice when I was an EU electoral observer in Pakistan earlier this year. This is why a European reaction to what is happening in the Maldives is important, and I welcome the fact that the Vice-President / High Representative has been vocal and has raised concerns over the halting of the work of the election commission following police intervention. The role and the credibility of the election commission is crucial in order to give confidence to citizens. In addition, the organisation of elections cannot be either the job of political parties or indeed of the police. We have to ask ourselves what the police are doing as far as stopping these elections is concerned. What on earth are they doing there?
The situation whereby lack of confidence in the Supreme Court and its judgments undermines the credibility of an election is deeply worrying. We need confidence in the separation of powers. Given that the failure to hold credible elections would be to deny Maldivian people their democratic rights – and I think we need to see these elections held as soon as possible – I would like to know what the EU is doing in terms of diplomatic dialogue. Why was there not an EU election observation mission? Are there plans for the EU to provide capacity-building with respect to judicial powers in the Maldives? Finally, is the Commission considering, as a last resort, the possibility of pressure through international trade tools?"@en1
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