Elections Commission has tabled an official meeting with all functioning political parties to discuss the upcoming presidential election.
The Maldives electoral watchdog has invited all registered political parties to attend the commission office venue on Thursday for the discussion at 10:00hrs.
The commission's member Ahmed Akram spoke with Avas Online on Wednesday stating EC has invited a total of four members from each political party. The commission has requested two members from each party's parliamentary group as well as two members from policy level.
According to EC the aim of meeting with local political parties is to facilitate them with an easy transitioning to the upcoming election's procedures. The commission's member Akram noted they aim to discuss the works carried out by EC prior to presidential election to provide the political parties with necessary information.
EC also would discuss the approaches it would use in regulating and monitoring the active political parties during campaigning and election.
"As we have said earlier we are attempting to conduct a fair and transparent election this time around and we believe the most pivotal role goes to political parties in making this event a reasonable one. We are hoping to proceed with the election preparation in full cooperation with these parties," Akram said.
While the local electoral watchdog has started preparation for the 2018 presidential election quite ahead of the actual event's date, opposition parties have continuously questioned the transparency of upcoming elections.
