ECM Amends Political Parties Act on Membership Changes

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has amended the Political Parties Act, mandating that individuals who switch parties without notifying the ECM will be reinstated to their original party.

The amendment also specifies that political parties must remove members from their rolls within 14 days of receiving a request for party resignation or transfer. If this is not actioned within the specified time frame, the ECM will intervene and ensure the individual’s name is removed from the party register. Additionally, the new regulation stipulates that a member’s name will be removed from the register if they run for a position they are ineligible for or if they are registered with a party without their knowledge.

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Previously, party members were able to resign by submitting a special form to the ECM. Under the new rules, the ECM retains the authority to assess the reasons behind any party change requests before proceeding with removal from the register. Furthermore, individuals whose names have been removed through this process will be prohibited from re-registering with the same political party.