EC moves to postpone local council elections

Elections Commission has announced that it will be rescheduling the local council elections and women’s development committee elections from April 4 to April 18.

The announcement came in a news conference yesterday.

Calls to postpone the election have been increasing among the public following the confirmation of Covid-19 in the Maldives.

The government yesterday announced a public health emergency and the election was postponed following this move.

Elections Commission president Ahmed Shareef stated that April 18 was the extent that the commission can delay the election legally. The election can only be delayed further through an act of parliament or court ruling.

Opposotion political coalition stated last night following the postponement, that the elections should be postponed without a date to allow parties to campaign.