UN calls for long-delayed Maldives presidential poll to be held this weekend

The right environment for free and fair elections do exist in the Maldives, insisted a top official of the United Nations here on Friday, dismissing a secret police report used to annul a previous presidential poll on Sept. 7. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, who concluded a two-day visit to the Maldives ahead of a third attempt to have presidential elections this Saturday, releasing a statement insisted that there was still time for the democratic process to be implemented. "The UN believes that conditions conducive to free and fair elections exist and therefore welcome the presidential candidates' signature of the Voter Lists, which will allow for the first round of the presidential elections to be held tomorrow," said Fernandez- Taranco. "We urge Government, political leaders and all other relevant State authorities, including the Maldives Police Service, to cooperate with the Elections Commission in the conduct of the elections and to seize the opportunity to further consolidate democracy in the Maldives," he added. Nov. 9, he stated, was "a decisive moment for democracy in the Maldives." "It is time to allow the people of the Maldives to express their voice and their legitimate will through the ballot box. A continued failure to do so would be a serious setback to consolidating democracy in the country, with potentially serious repercussions, including a very likely negative impact on the already fragile economy," Fernandez-Taranco warned. Referring to the previous attempt to hold presidential elections on Sept. 7, which was subsequently annulled by the Supreme Court based on a secret report submitted by the Police, the UN official insisted that they support other international monitors who believe the poll was free and fair. "We feel confident in asserting that the election was all inclusive, there was no disenfranchisement and the quality of the voter register met international standards," the statement added. Former President Mohamed Nasheed led the annulled vote with 45. 45 percent, followed by the half brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, MP Abdulla Yameen, with 25.35 percent. Resort tycoon Gasim Ibrahim narrowly missed a place in the run- off with 24.07 percent, while incumbent President Mohamed Waheed just polled 5.13 percent. "The UN recognizes the assessment of domestic and international observers that the 7 September election was conducted in a satisfactory manner," stated Fernandez-Taranco, who reiterated " the deep concerns expressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights relating to the conduct of the Supreme Court." Maldives election officials are now scrambling to hold both rounds of the presidential elections this weekend ahead of a crucial Constitutional deadline on Nov. 11. The two candidates that poll the most number of votes on Saturday will head for a second round run-off on Sunday.