Atoll Councils can hold by-elections to cut costs, says MDP PG

The Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) parliamentary group proposed on Wednesday that atoll councils can hold by-elections to cut state expenditures.

An amendment seeking to reduce the number of by-elections, due to the increased circumstances for vacancies in local councils, was proposed the parliament last Monday.

At the press conference held on Wednesday by MDP parliamentary group, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir said ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has been advocating for lesser by-elections to cut costs.

He said the argument also insinuated the ruling party was attempting to reduce and defer elections.

"When we looked into this, we believe neither the central government nor the Elections Commission (EC) are required to have any significant involvement in council by-elections, instead of that atoll councils can takeover and manage by-elections," Mauroof said.

While the atoll council will be managing the by-election, EC can dispatch an official of theirs to monitor, Mauroof added.

Mauroof further said that delaying council by-elections by six months would further distance the public from the central government, curtail council powers, and render them useless.

As per current law, by-elections must take place within 60 days from the date a seat at the council has become vacant.

According to the amendment, the Local Government Authority (LGA) must inform the EC within 14 days from the date of a council seat's vacancy and hold the by-election within 183 days.