Opposition demands disclosure of election observer invite policy

The opposition PPM-PNC coalition on Sunday urged the Elections Commission (EC) to disclose the procedure by which countries have been invited to observe the upcoming presidential election/

As the presidential election draws close, the coalition issued a press release on Sunday evening highlighting the concerns over the issue.

According to the press release:

The coalition said it is interested in understanding whether the current roster of invitees adequately ensures the creation of an equitable environment conducive to conducting a free and fair election.

"We believe that the inclusion of a diverse range of observers can contribute to promoting transparency and fairness throughout the electoral process. We also note that the assessment conducted by monitoring organisations before the election is of utmost importance and that pre-election evaluations serves as a vital safeguard against electoral fraud and ensures the preservation of a free and fair electoral process," the statement read.

"The absence of such assessments can contribute to a decline in democratic standards, allowing for potential government misconduct and undermining the integrity of the forthcoming election."

According to the opposition, it is imperative that to ensure a transparent and fair election, clear and concise procedural policies are publicised to allow maximum transparency and the participation from all interested parties.

"This comes at a time when the public’s confidence in the government’s capacity to hold a free and fair election is at an all-time low as the opposition leader and presidential candidate of the largest political party in the Maldives remains unlawfully incarcerated," the statement read.

"Moreover, the notion of a transparent electoral assessment remains inconceivable as the ruling party’s strong hold over the parliament and its subsequent chilling effect over the electoral watchdog diminishes all prospects of such assessment.

The 15 countries invited by the Election Commission to observe the September 9 presidential election were revealed on Saturday. These countries are: