Politics

Elections Commission begins announcing results

With results from 98 percent of 422 ballot boxes collected, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party is leading with 315 seats and the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives is trailing with 185 seats.

Lawyers spar over Gasim’s bribery charge

Gasim was charged for declaring that the allied opposition parties would grant tickets for the 2019 parliamentary elections to MPs who vote to impeach Speaker Maseeh and offering to help with their re-election campaigns.

Gayoom’s secretary-general pays MVR85k fine for contempt of court

Aleem was fined after a five-judge panel decided that he contravened a civil court ruling that stripped Gayoom of his powers as the elected leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives.

Government reinstates health insurance to private sector

The government has reversed an abrupt policy change implemented without notice on Saturday night to exclude private healthcare providers from the state’s free health insurance scheme.

Election ‘marred’ by arbitrary extension of voting hours

Administrative processes during Saturday’s local council election was “marred by the questionable decision by the Elections Commission to arbitrarily extend the voting time,” Transparency Maldives has said after observing the voting process.

Council elections outcome ‘satisfactory’ for ruling party

The ruling coalition has described the outcome of Saturday’s local council election as “a satisfactory victory” despite heavy losses in the capital and other populous islands.

Opposition declares landslide victory

Provisional results show that the MDP swept the Malé, Addu and Fuvahmulah city councils and secured majorities in other populous islands across the country.

Maldives votes in third local council election

After multiple delays and campaigning amidst a political crisis, voting is underway throughout the Maldives in the country’s third local council elections.

Vox pop: Voting day

As polls opened Saturday morning for the long-delayed local council elections, the Maldives Independent spoke to voters in the capital about their voting experience.

Raajje TV journalists denied monitor passes by elections commission

The elections commission rejected applications from 32 Raajje TV journalists to monitor Saturday’s local council elections and report from inside polling stations with accredited passes.

Raajje TV pays MVR1m defamation fine

Council election campaign concludes

The May 6 local council election is due to take place despite the refusal of opposition candidates to endorse the final voter list due to concerns over its accuracy.

State withdraws case against PPM candidate

The Prosecutor General’s office has withdrawn a case seeking to detain a ruling party candidate for the Malé city council on an assault charge.

President Yameen on hate speech and limits of free expression

On Thursday, President Abdulla Yameen spoke about hate speech and the limits of freedom of expression. The remarks were widely seen as a reference to the murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed.

Projects and price cuts ahead of local council elections

Ahead of Saturday’s local council elections, ministers have been travelling across the country to launch infrastructure projects, urging voters to choose ruling coalition candidate to ensure the development of their constituencies.

Faris escapes prosecution over statute of limitations

The Prosecutor General’s office declined to prosecute Faris Maumoon, son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, over alleged failure to reimburse the state for expenses from the presidential palace.

Campaign for council elections enters final stretch

After multiple delays, campaigning for the May 6 local council elections has entered the final stretch with both the ruling and opposition parties walking door to door and holding rallies across the country.

Yameen’s father appeals for foreign involvement in murder probe

Despite claiming to have identified two suspects, the police have yet to make any arrests a week after the 29-year-old was found with multiple stab wounds in the stairway of his apartment building.

Maldives slides on press freedom index

Based on developments during the past year, RSF said the government continues to “persecute the independent media” after a new law criminalised defamation and allowed the authorities to shut down media outlets.

Four arrested over ‘terror plot’

Four men were arrested on Monday during a series of police raids in Male over an intelligence tip off over a suspected terror plot, according to court documents and local media reports.