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Maldives GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Highly centralized presidential
government,
based on 1968 constitution as revised. Islam is official
religion; president elected for renewable five-year term
by
legislature, or Majlis. Unicameral legislature whose
members
serve five-year terms; combination of elected and
appointed
members. Muslim sharia law applies to civil and criminal
cases;
judges appointed by president; courts under minister of
justice.
Politics: No organized political parties, but
various
factions exist. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom reelected president
in
1993; also holds posts of minister of defense and minister
of
finance.
Foreign Relations: Member of Commonwealth of
Nations;
has particularly close relations with Britain but seeks to
maintain cordial relations with all states. Founder of
South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (see Glossary)
in
1985.
Data as of August 1994
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