ECM Proposes Reforms to Political Parties Act

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced plans to reform the Political Parties Act, aiming to enable government budget allocations to all registered political parties.

In a meeting held yesterday, ECM officials discussed proposed amendments to the Act, with ECM President Fuad Thowfeek later confirming that the discussions focused on three primary areas. The key issue was the proposal to revise budget allocation criteria for political parties. Currently, the Act stipulates that only parties with over 10,000 registered members qualify for state funding. The proposed changes seek to extend eligibility to all active political parties.

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According to Fuad, the proposed amendment divides the budget allocation process into four categories:

• 25% of the budget for parties with at least 3,000 members.
• Another 25% for parties with over 10,000 members.
• 30% based on the number of seats a party holds in the parliament.
• 20% based on the seats secured in local council elections.

Another significant topic at the meeting was a proposal to relax the requirement for political parties to hold a congress every five years. Additionally, the ECM is considering updates to the party membership procedures.

Fuad noted that discussions around amending the Political Parties Act initially began in 2020, with consultations involving all active political parties at that time. The commission has since drafted the amendment bill and plans to submit it to the Attorney General’s Office by the end of the week.