Rally at main Jumhoory Party hub – FILE PHOTO: MIHAARU
The opposition coalition boycotted the Election Commission’s (EC) all-party talks Tuesday, claiming that the electoral watchdog is working in favour of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) as a means to gather information from the joint opposition.
Jumhoory Party’s secretary general Ahmed Sameer stated at a joint opposition press conference that former EC chief Ahmed Sulaiman had resigned so that the parliament could appoint a new chief to the commission when the presidential election is scheduled to be held this year.
Sameer noted that the EC’s decision to oust the lawmakers disqualified from parliament after they joined the opposition coalition was unconstitutional, and stated that the commission was working only to protect the rights of the ruling party.
Commission member Ahmed Akram, however, refuted the opposition’s decline to the all-party talks meeting, stating that the commission expects the opposition coalition will be present at the meeting as the commission does not accept unofficial statements made at rallies.
The commission had earlier extended invitations to meet all the political parties in one sitting to discuss ways to monitor and regulate political parties.
Whilst the country is in political turmoil over the upcoming presidential elections, the opposition has raised questions about the integrity of the EC and its capacity to hold fair elections. Elections Commission, however, has ensured that the upcoming election will be held in accordance with the Maldives’ electoral laws and guaranteed that it will maintain transparency throughout the election.