First round

The Indian observer team in the Maldives has said that the success in the first round of the presidential election held on Saturday, is an achievement which any of the mature democracies would have been proud of.

This came in a statement by the observer team following the election, published by the High Commission of India in the Maldives.

“The success in the first round is an achievement which any of the mature democracies would have been proud of. This was a transparent and fair election and there is no reason why the run off should be any less than the first round.”

The Indian observer team highlighted that the polling was orderly and unblemished by any notable incident. Regarding the counting of votes, the statement read, “The counting did try everyone’s patience, each bundle of ballot papers having to be counted and recounted by Elections Commission personnel. The mutual trust between the candidates’ representatives on the one hand and between them and the counting personnel made adequate amends.”

A delegation of six teams of Indian observers was in the Maldives during the election, at the invitation of the Elections Commission of Maldives.

Four teams observed polling in Malé and surrounding islands of Villingli, Hulhumalé, Thulusudhoo, Huraa and Bandos, while one team visited Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo islands of the Seenu Atoll (Addu) in the south and another team visited Kulhudhuffushi, Hanimadhoo, Dhidhoo and nearby islands in Haa Dhaalu and Haa Alifu Atolls in the north.

The team thanked the Elections Commission of Maldives for inviting them and for being helpful and facilitative to their observers.