Elections Commission takes actions against three parties

Elections Commission (EC) has taken actions against three political parties for failing to abide by the Political Party Act.

According to EC, action was taken against Maldives People’s Alliance (MDA) founded by the renowned businessman Ahmed Shiyam, Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Maldives Third-way Democracy (MTD) founded by former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb. MP Abdulla Jabir is the leader of DRP.

The action was taken against MDA for not holding a national council meeting of the party as per the Political Party Act. The party has been fined with MVR 50,000 which has to be paid within one month of lifting the current public health emergency declared in the Maldives amid COVID-19 pandemic. EC has instructed the party to conduct the meeting at the earliest.

DRP has been fined for not paying the fines imposed on the party for repeatedly flouting the Political Party Act. The party was fined before for not submitting the annual report of 2018 and 2019, for not holding the party’s national council meeting, and for not taking the corrective measures as instructed by EC.

EC said a meeting will be held with DRP since the party was advised on various occasions, and all options have been exhausted.

MTD has been fined for not holding the party’s national council meeting. MTD was fined with MVR 30,000 which has to be paid within one month of lifting the current public health emergency. EC has instructed MTD to conduct the meeting at the earliest.