EC dismisses complaint against PNC

Elections Commission (EC) has made the decision to dismiss the complaint lodged against People’s National Congress (PNC) over the use of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s assets.

The complaint over the use of PPM’s assets by PNC was filed by a member of the general public last Sunday. It came mere hours before PNC held its inaugural congress on Sunday night.

EC, on Monday, announced it had set up a three-member committee - made up of two appointees from EC’s legal department and one appointee from EC’s law firm to look into the complaint.

Speaking during a press conference by the committee this Wednesday afternoon, chair of the committee, Riffath Abdulla announced the committee has decided the commission cannot look into the complaint.

“Based on our investigation of how this took place, and everything surrounding this case, this committee has decided the case cannot be looked into as requested by the complainant,” said Riffath.

Riffath announced that EC, based on the findings of the committee, has decided against holding the permit issued to PNC.

New Regulation on Political Parties empowers the EC to terminate permission issued to new political parties which wish to officially register their party, if it is found to be using assets of an existing political party or found to have misrepresented themselves or used undue influence during the formation and registration process.

Committee member, Attorney Mahfooz Saeed said the regulation referenced in the complaint was published on the Government Gazette on January 24, after PNC received its permit for formation as a political party and permission to hold its inaugural congress.

“Action cannot be taken in retrospect,” said Mahfooz.

Mahfooz noted that despite the decision to dismiss the complaint, the committee, during the course of its investigation, found the claims made in the complaint to be true.

“We found the claims to be true,” said Mahloof, explaining the committee found PNC’s work was carried out at the address registered as PPM’s, and many members of PPM’s leadership were found to have contributed to PNC’s formation process.