Two former Nauru presidents say international observers for this year's general elections are needed now.
Nauru opposition MP and former President, Marcus Stephen. Photo: AFP
Sprent Dabwido and Marcus Stephen are asking the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum to start providing oversight immediately after recent law changes they say undermine the democratic process.
The two men said the government has brought in barriers for potential candidates and say this would unfairly affect the election outcome.
Former Nauru president Sprent Dabwido Photo: supplied
Sprent Dabwido said observers need to see the things the government is doing.
"We are asking that the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum bring their observers earlier and also bring somebody who's more aware on how elections are handled and run, and experienced enough to know when something being illegally done or not."
Last week the parliament, which has just two opposition MPs, passed changes to the Electoral Act, hiking candidate fees 20 fold and the charge for moving constituencies 15-fold.
