The parliamentary election debate, organised by Public Service Media (PSM), has successfully concluded. The debate spanned from February 20 to March 9 and was tailored for candidates competing in the upcoming parliamentary election. It covered various constituencies, following the order established by the parliament, with the first candidates debating for the Male' area representative position and the last candidates for the northern region of Feydhoo, Addu City.
Out of the 371 candidates invited to participate, 315 engaged in the debate, while 56 candidates did not take part. The debate was broadcast and gained significant traction on social media platforms, accumulating numerous views.
A notable difference in this year's debate was the inclusion of public participation, allowing individuals to submit questions to candidates via SMS. The questions were then posed to the respective candidates during the debate. Additionally, the debates were conducted in areas with larger populations, such as Kulhudhuffushi City, Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaal Atoll, Fuvahmulah City, and Addu City.
The primary aim of the debate was to provide candidates with an opportunity to introduce themselves and present their policies to the public. This facilitated citizens in making informed choices about the best representative for their area, considering each candidate's vision for development and policies that would benefit the nation as a whole.
The parliamentary election is scheduled to take place in April.