The State will disburse MVR 32.9 million from the national budget to political parties this year.
The President of the Elections Commission, Fuwad Thawfeek, said the commission is working to disburse the funds to the eligible parties before the date stated in the law. He said this could be achieved if the parties submit their annual and audit reports. While four parties are eligible to receive the funds, he said some parties have already submitted their reports.
'Both the Elections Commission and the Finance Ministry are ready with the arrangements to disburse the funds within the period stipulated in the law. But we can only do that when we receive the annual and audit reports required per the Political Party Act,' Fuwad said.
The four parties that qualify to receive funds are the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), ruling coalition partners Jumhooree Party and Adhaalath Party, and opposing Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM).
As per the Political Party Act, the funds issued to political parties must be between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of the total national budget for the year. A party must have 10,000 members to qualify for state funding.
Political parties and details of funding
MDP: MVR 15,024,009.6 - 54,660 members
PPM: MVR 9,410,483.51 - 34,237 members
JP: MVR 5,526,669.75 - 20,107 members
AP: MVR 2,900,903.79 - 10,554 members
