The opposition coalition has expressed concern over the countries invited by the Elections Commission (EC) to observe the September 9 presidential election.
In a statement on Sunday night, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) called on the commission to reveal the standards and policies used to choose observer countries.
Last week, the EC sent invitations to 15 countries. They are Georgia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, Jordan, Canada, Japan and Nepal.
The statement noted that electoral bodies of countries with close relations to the Maldives were not invited to observe the polls.
The statement does not mention any countries. But China which is close to the opposition and India which is close to the government, were not invited.
It called on the EC to expand the list of observer countries.
The opposition further accused misuse of state resources to benefit the government during the elections held in the past five years.
In the last presidential election of 2018, a total of 472 ballot boxes were stationed all around the country, but the number will go up to 600 this year.
Over 280,000 people are eligible to vote this year and the number of ballot boxes for capital Male’ city alone would increase greatly.
The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for September 9 and the run-off round will be held on September 30.
Candidates will get to submit applications from July 23 to August 3.
