The Elections Commission has suspended public funding of six political parties it claims are inactive.
The parties were the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), the Maldives National Congress (MNC), the Social Liberal Party (SLP), the Maldivian Social Democratic Party (MSDP), the People’s Party (PP), and the Labour Party.
Haveeru reported Deputy Elections Commissioner Ahmed Fayaz Hassan as saying that payments would only be resumed on a court order, or if parties could prove they were politically active.
The budget allocates Rf 13.65 million (US$1.1 million) for the functioning of political parties. Of that money, reported Haveeru, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) received (Rf 3.57 million), opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Rf 3.15 million, Adhaalath Party Rf 842,441.62, Jumhoree Party Rf 816,538.47, People’s Alliance (PA) Rf 622,691.85, Gaumee Ithihaadh Party (GIP) Rf 643, 471.30, and Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) Rf 618, 279.78.
