All eight candidates for the September 9 presidential candidates have refused to comply with a request for sources of campaign finances and details of expenditure.
Adhadhu wrote letters to all the candidates seeking the details. Eight questions were included in the letter.
Questions on campaign spending
- How much money was received (as of August 15) for the presidential election campaign?
- What other non-monetary assistance was received for the presidential election campaign?
- Who provided campaign finances and other assistance? (with details of assistance)
- How much has been spent on the campaign so far from your own budget?
- How much has been spent on campaigning as of August 15?
- Main areas and expenditures on the campaign.
None of the eight candidates, including President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu from the People's National Congress (PNC), responded to the questions.
Asked about campaign finances at a press briefing today, President Solih's campaign spokeswoman Mariya Ahmed Didi said that the MDP will submit details of expenditure to the Elections Commission (EC) as required by law when the election is over.
Despite not providing details, Mariya said President Solih is conducting a clean campaign.
"And all political persons in our government submitted their accounts at the end of the year and the president as well has been submitting to the Auditor General. So there won't be any talk like President [Abdulla] Yameen having millions of dollars, claiming it was given for the campaign but not spending it on the campaign and saying he won't have to give it to the party. President Solih has been conducting a very clean campaign," she said.
Each candidate is required to open a separate bank account for the campaign and to submit a statement of expenses. But the law does not require transparency and disclosure of campaign contributions.
