- Ruling party gets lion share
- No funds for DRP and Adhaalath Party
- Funds released after a long delay
Elections Commission Wednesday at long last released state funds to four parties.
The commission released MVR23.2 million to four parties including ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Jumhooree Party (JP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) which had been due in March.
Commission member Ahmed Akram blamed the delay on the recent amendments to the political party Act denying accusations that it had deliberately withheld the funds.
Political parties are entitled to state funds based on membership.
Funds released
- MDP - 7.3 million
- JP - 2.9 million
- PPM - 10.1 million
- MDA - 2.8 million
Elections Commission has removed members without fingerprints from the party list in accordance with the amendments brought to the political party law.
The political party with the current highest membership is PPM with 37,633. MDP's membership count suffered a huge blow and the party currently stands at second with 27,000 members. JP has a count of 10,989 while MD has 10,584 members.
Parties with less than 10,000 members are no longer eligible for state funds ruling out Adaalath Party and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party from contention.
