EC requests Finance Ministry to release funds for political parties

Elections Commission (EC) has requested the issuance of funds allocated for political parties from the state budget in accordance with the Political Parties Act.

The Political Parties Act dictates that 0.01 percent of the state budget must be allocated to registered political parties which meet the 10,000-member mark.

EC’s President Fuad Thaufeeq told Sun on Tuesday that the commission has filed a request with the Finance Ministry to issue the funds to political parties which meet the requirement and have completed the necessary mandates under the Political Parties Act.

Political parties have been allocated MVR 36.9 million from the state budget approved for the year. Parties with greater numbers of members will be receiving higher amounts of money.

Details of funds that will be dispersed to each party;

• Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – MVR 14,212,790.92
• Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – MVR 9,544,204.46
• Jumhoory Party (JP) – MVR 5,680,521.16
• Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) – MVR 2,591,106.24
• Maldives National Party (MNP) MVR 2,434,979.29
• Adhaalath Party (AP) – MVR 2,412,485.93

All political parties are carrying out a multitude of activities in preparation for the upcoming presidential elections.

Funds from the state budget are released to political parties each year after reviewing the annual report and financial report submitted.