MDP and President Waheed

Presidential candidate of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed and the coalition of President Dr Mohamed Waheed have expressed confidence in the work of the Elections Commission, and said that the upcoming presidential election would be a free and fair election.

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said while speaking to reporters prior to his departure to India and Saudi Arabia, that it is not likely that the Elections Commission can be influenced by a particular group.

Speaking at a press conference held by Forward with the Nation coalition, Spokesperson Abdul Rasheed Nafiz also said that he was confident that a free and fair presidential election can be ensured.

“The Elections Commission is made up of very capable people. We have confidence in them,” he said.

He referred to PPM’s recent claims about the commission’s work and said that the commission would not work according to the wishes of Abdullah Yameen.

“I don’t think that the Elections Commission would carry out the requests of Abdullah Yameen. The Elections Commission is an independent institution. They conducted both rounds of the 2008 presidential election very well. And since then they have organised parliamentary elections, local councils election, and if I remember correctly, 50 by-elections. All these elections were conducted efficiently. Assistance is being provided to the commission by foreign observers and other foreign groups for this presidential election. I think the commission’s work is efficient. A fair election can be ensured,” he said.

Nasheed said that as part of his visit to India, he would meet with the prime minister of India and also the MDP campaign team in Trivandrum. Nasheed will also travel to Saudi Arabia for Umra.