The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has announced an amendment to the law, allowing more than one individual to apply for permission to establish a political party. Previously, only a single individual had the authority to initiate the formation of a political party.
The amendment to the Political Parties Act has been officially published in the Government Gazette. As such, the application for forming a political party must now include a clear copy of both sides of the applicant or applicants' Maldivian national identification card, along with a criminal record form.
The amendment states that individuals seeking to establish a political party should receive written permission from ECM within seven days of submitting the required documents alongside the application form. In addition, the proposed name for the political party must be deemed acceptable by ECM. Once the commission grants permission under a specific name, no other entity is permitted to use it for a designated period.
A requirement for political party formation involves at least 3,000 individuals submitting membership forms to ECM within three months from the date of receiving permission to form the party. Individuals that have filled out the forms must not hold membership in any other political party. ECM stated that if the submitted forms for political party formation do not reach the 3,000 signatures upon review, the party will be granted an additional three months to attain the required number.