Commonwealth monitors call for credible polls in the Maldives

Commonwealth election monitors on Tuesday called for a credible election in the Maldives as the country looks to strengthen its democratic culture. Lawrence Gonzi, Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, in a statement issued as his team began preparations to monitor Saturday\'s crucial election, said that their task will be to consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. Incumbent President Mohamed Waheed will be contesting in the presidential elections on Saturday and his main rival will be former president and leader of the Maldives Democratic Party Mohammad Nasheed. The Commonwealth Observer Group has been drawn from across the Commonwealth, and includes politicians, members of election commissions, former diplomats, and representatives of civil society, media and youth. \"Our task is to consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole, and to assess whether the election is conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Maldives has committed itself, with reference to its own election legislation as well as relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments,\" Gonzi said. He said that they will also consider, among other things, whether conditions exist for free and competitive elections, whether the Elections Commission is independent and effective, the transparency of the process, whether candidates have been free to campaign, whether public media has been impartial, whether voters are free to express their will and whether the results process is transparent. \"We have already met with the Elections Commission, NGOs and international partners. Over the coming days we will be meeting with representatives of the candidates, independent institutions and other relevant stakeholders. We will then deploy across the atolls to observe the conclusion of the campaign and thereafter the voting, counting and results process. We will issue an Interim Statement after the election and a final report thereafter,\" he said.