Legitimate opposition is a vital part of any healthy democracy, it's critical that authorities respect fundamental freedoms : EU
The statement comes following authorities attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of opposition MDP
Police entering MDP premises to halt MDP primary and seize ballot boxes
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) has issued a statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission and the Ambassadors of Canada and the United States resident in Colombo and accredited to the Maldives following the Maldivian authorities having attempted to halt the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Presidential primaries held on Wednesday.
The statement was backed by the High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka and Maldives, who had tweeted the statement on their official twitter account.
The statement reads that "the Ambassador of the European Union together with the Ambassadors of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, the UK, Canada and the United States have followed with increasing concern the recent deterioration of the situation in the Maldives, especially in relation to the pre-election process."
In it's appeal on the Maldivian authorities to allow a free and fair Presidential Election this year, the statement also reads that "legitimate opposition is a vital part of any healthy democracy, and it is critical that authorities respect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of assembly and speech."
The Ambassadors jointly urged Maldivian authorities to "demonstrate genuine commitment to a credible, transparent, and inclusive election process.", further reminding that they will continue to closely monitor the respect for these freedoms in the run-up to the Presidential Elections.
