Elections not free nor fair until Gayoom implements Human Rights Commission and Commonwealth Expert

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expresses its deep concern over President Gayoom’s continued refusal to ensure a free and fair by-election within the national constitutional assembly.

The ongoing by-election for three seats in the People’s Special Majlis has already been marred by bribery, undue use of state facilities and influence by candidates supported by President Gayoom. Members and favoured candidates of the President’s party have been openly observed manning and entering polling booths as well as rifling through doctored voter lists which include numerous names of deceased persons.

The Maldives Human Rights Commission and Commonwealth Expert Team have both recommended that the President allow for an independent Elections Commission in order to address such problems. Yet the Elections Commissioner, formerly a member of the President’s ruling party, is dismissed solely at the President’s pleasure and as a likely consequence has willfully failed to remedy any irregularities brought to his attention by the opposition.

The MDP therefore reiterates its urgent call for the President to immediately implement the recommendations of the Maldives Human Rights Commission and Commonwealth Expert Team. The MDP strongly believes there is no credible or legitimate reason for the President to not allow our citizens to freely and fairly elect their national representatives.