News Desk
In a demonstration of adherence to legal mandates, the Elections Commission of the Maldives has unveiled a disbursement exceeding MVR 44 million from this year’s state budget, extending support to six prominent political entities. The recipients of this funding, as disclosed by the commission, include the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalat Party, People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Jumhooree Party (JP), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), and Congress Party.
This financial allotment is intricately tied to the criteria established by the Political Parties Act, which demands that political entities must boast a minimum of 10,000 members on their register by the date of the budget’s approval by Parliament. The recently ratified budget on December 13, 2023, successfully met this criterion for the MDP, PPP, JP, People’s National Congress (PNC), MDA, and Adhaalat Party.
The Election Commission, in accordance with this legal framework, has designated MVR 44,099,905 for these political parties, aligning with the customary practice of allocating 0.01 percent of the state budget to political funding.
The breakdown of funding based on party membership is as follows:
| Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) | Members: 52,142 | Funding: MVR 15.1 million |
| Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) | Members: 36,223 | Funding: MVR 10.4 million |
| Jumhooree Party (JP) | Members: 18,349 | Funding: MVR 5.3 million |
| Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) | Members: 8,555 | Funding: MVR 2.4 million |
| People’s National Congress (PNC) | Members: 28,201 | Funding: MVR 8.9 million |
| Adhaalath Party | Members: 8,700 | Funding: MVR 2.5 million |
This translates to MVR 289.62 per member, benefitting a total of 152,266 members. The infusion of funds aims to fortify the operational capacities of political parties, nurturing democratic engagement and representation. In a nation with 10 registered political parties, this allocation stands as a pivotal mechanism to sustain and fortify the diverse political landscape.
This financial injection is anticipated to empower political parties in their mission to advocate for public interests, contributing to the vibrancy of the democratic fabric in the nation.
