The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced that 91 Parliamentarians who contested in the parliamentary elections have submitted their financial statements by May 20. The commission disclosed that 56 out of the 91 Parliamentarians were candidates representing parties, the remaining 35 candidates competed in elections individually.
The General Elections Act mandates all candidates to submit their respective financial statement to the ECM within a one-month timeframe since the date of the election. Consequently, the commission has stipulated May 22 as the deadline for the submission of these statements.
The financial statements submitted to the commission are required to comprehensively detail the expenses incurred by the candidates during the electoral process, encompassing both monetary transactions and property acquisitions. Additionally, all expenditures related to securing support and votes must be meticulously documented. Moreover, the financial statements are expected to delineate the sources from which funds were raised for election-related expenses, including contributions from individuals who assisted the candidates, as well as any utilization of personal connections.
Furthermore, ECM has reiterated its commitment to enforcing legal measures against candidates who fail to adhere to the prescribed deadline for submitting their financial statements, in accordance with the relevant legislation. Article 74 of the Act explicitly designates the failure to fulfill certain legal obligations as an electoral offense, thereby subjecting violators to penalties which may include imprisonment for a period ranging from six months to two years, or fines ranging from USD 389 to USD 1556.
A total of 368 candidates competed in the parliamentary elections held on April 21. While some candidates participated individually, six various political parties were represented in the elections.