EC to accept complaints on admittance to political parties against regulations

Elections Commission (EC) has opened opportunity to file complaints regarding admittance to a political party against the stipulated regulations.

Via a tweet, EC said that each such complaint would be thoroughly investigated – adding that legal action would be pursued against the individual found guilty in the matter.

In this regard, the authority has decided that political parties will be fined by MVR 10,000 for each counterfeit membership application form submitted in the name of the party. Meanwhile, registrars of political parties will be fined MVR 5,000 for first offense involving counterfeit form and MVR 10,000 for repeat offense.

EC has also taken additional measures to combat admittance to political parties through counterfeit membership application forms. This includes the publication of the information of people who apply to register with political parties in order to ensure the integrity of membership forms.

Under this initiative, the full name of the individual requesting membership, the last two digits of their National Identity Card number and the name of the party will be listed on the official website of the commission.

Apart from this, a text message detailing a form has been submitted will be sent to the contact number of the individual listed on the application form.

Maldives National Party (MNP), Adhaalath Party (AP) and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been previously accused of submitting counterfeit membership application forms to increase the number of party members.

Meanwhile, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has raised the issue of many of its members being interchanged to MNP and AP without their knowledge including some council presidents elected on the party’s ticket.

Velidhoo MP Abdulla Shafeeg has also recently raised the issue of his parents being admitted as members of AP by fraud.