2017 Local Council Elections
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New councillors take oath of office
Judges and magistrates administered oaths of office to 575 island councillors, 66 atoll councillors and 23 city councillors. The new councils also elected presidents and vice presidents at inaugural meetings after the swearing-in ceremonies.
04 Jun 2017, 9:00 AM
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Council elections turnout at 66 percent
Contrary to media reports and claims by ruling party lawmakers and ministers, the turnout in the capital was 42 percent and voters turned out in much higher numbers in the rest of the country.
16 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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Opposition candidate secures Kuribee council seat after recount
A recount of votes from a ballot box on the island of Kuribee in Haa Dhaal atoll has changed the result and averted a second round of voting between three candidates tied in third place.
15 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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Female candidates win majorities on four island councils
Female candidates won majorities on island councils for the first time in the Maldives’ third municipal elections on May 6.
14 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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Powerhouse manager transferred after election loss
The assistant manager of the state-owned powerhouse on the southern island of Thimafarushi in Thaa atoll has been transferred after refusing to resign in the wake of the ruling party’s loss in the local council elections.
13 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
09 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
06 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
06 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
05 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
05 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
02 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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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.
01 May 2017, 9:00 AM
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Council elections delayed for third time over flu outbreak
“President Yameen is convinced he can’t win a fair election and has delayed #LCE2017 for the 3rd time. A case of lies upon lies. Unacceptable,” tweeted former President Mohamed Nasheed, the opposition leader.
18 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
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As sole candidates, 13 councillors elected without contest
Thirteen councillors have been elected without a contest after the elections commission declared them winners by default in the absence of other contenders.
15 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
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MDP launches campaign, PPM introduces candidates for Malé city
The opposition MDP officially launched its local council election campaign with simultaneous rallies in the north and south on Thursday night as the ruling party introduced its candidates for the Malé city council.
13 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
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Campaigning underway for April’s local council elections
Both the PPM and MDP have been gearing up for the campaign in recent days. The stakes in the Maldives’ third local council election are higher than the previous polls as it will put claims of overwhelming public support to the test.
20 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
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Majlis approves bill to let candidates with criminal records run for councils
MPs voted 46-19 to amend the 2010 local council elections law to allow individuals convicted of graft, bribery, drug abuse, and offences with punishments prescribed in Islamic shariah to contest three years after being pardoned or completing their jail sentence.
08 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
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PPM wants to let convicts contest local council elections
Opposition MPs accused the ruling party of seeking to grant the PPM’s ticket to convicts ahead of April’s local council elections.
07 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
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Police orders Gayoom to cancel meeting with PPM members
Gayoom was planning to launch a series of meetings with PPM members when two police officers visited the former president’s office this afternoon and informed his son Faris Maumoon that the gathering cannot take place.
18 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
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Local council elections rescheduled for April
The elections commission has assured political parties that the postponed local council elections will be rescheduled for early April with a new date to be announced next week.
04 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM