The Elections Commission (EC) has completed disbursing state funding to all eligible parties, including the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Speaking to Adhadhu, EC member Hussain Zakariyya, the commission's spokesperson, said that the funds were provided to MDP and PNC last month after some delays.
The delay in releasing funds to MDP was caused by the late submission of the party's financial disclosures and the delay for PNC was due to the late submission of details regarding the opening of the party's bank account, Zakariyya said.
"We instructed the release of funds for MDP and PNC during May. Both parties have now received the funds. With that we have completed releasing funds for all parties," Zakariyya said.
Aside from MDP and PNC, funding was disbursed to all other parties in April, Zakariyya said. State funding was provided to a total of six parties, he said.
State funding for parties
- Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) - MVR 15.1 million
- Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) - MVR 10.4 million
- People's National Congress (PNC) - MVR 8 million
- Jumhooree Party (JP) - MVR 5.3 million
- Adhaalath Party (AP) - MVR 2.5 million
- Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) - MVR 2.4 million
Funding is provided to political parties in the Maldives based on membership. Funding is provided to parties with more than 10,000 members based on the number of members.
There are 10 registered political parties in operation in the Maldives and the political parties law states that funding should be provided to parties that have 10,000 members by the day that Parliament passes the annual budget.
