Maldives People’s Majlis Election, 22 March 2014

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for Maldives parliamentary election held on 22 March 2014. The Group was chaired by Bruce Golding, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, and was comprised of 7 members in total. The Commonwealth Observer Group found that the polls were well organised and well managed, with all stakeholders playing their respective roles in ensuring that polling was peaceful and credible. However, the group was concerned by the Supreme Court’s declared dismissal of the chair and vice chair of the Election Commission for contempt of court, which undermined the separation of powers provided for in the Maldivian constitution, as well as reports of widespread vote buying and the lack of effective regulation of campaign financing.