The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has stated that the second round of presidential elections was organised in a professional and transparent manner, contributing to heightened public trust in the credibility of election processes.
Speaking at a press conference, Chief Observer Nacho Sanchez commended the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) for conducting a well-organised election despite the brief interval between the two rounds. He highlighted the dedication of ECM to maintaining impartial and professional conduct and meeting legal deadlines despite staff shortages. He also said voters are to be commended for their participation in large numbers during the election.
Additionally, Sanchez pointed out the personal anti-campaigns of both presidential candidates during the second round. He highlighted a surge in divisive discourse on social media that disseminated both genuine and misleading information including questionable polls, accusations of identity (ID) card falsification in the context of re-registration, and narratives tied to religion.
The EUEOM deployed 36 observers from member states, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, who visited 119 polling stations in 56 islands, covering Male' City and 14 atolls across the country.