The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) submitted 12,000 membership forms yesterday to the Elections Commission (EC).
MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed told the press that the main opposition party’s membership would rise to over 50,000 once the new membership forms are processed.
The MDP is currently the largest political party in Maldives with 40,940 registered members.
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(0)The Elections Commission has fined religious Adhaalath Party and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party MVR5000 (US$324) for submitting fraudulent membership forms.
According to the EC, the two parties had submitted membership forms where one individual had put fingerprints on different forms.
In January, the EC fined the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives and its ally the Jumhooree Party for submitting membership forms on behalf of deceased people.
(0)Dislikes(0)Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has announced that it has reached 10,000 members, meaning it will be now recognised as an official party under the new political parties’ bill.
The recently-formed party, led by Ahmed ‘Sun Travel’ Shiyam, submitted 4,900 membership forms yesterday (March 6) – the same day as parliament passed the political parties bill – bringing the party’s total membership over 10,000.
Elections Commission President Fuad Thaufeeg told local media that a further 1,000 were submitted on February 13, 536 on February 24 and 618 forms on February 25.
In addition to the pending forms, MDA has 3,354 official registered members, local media reported.
The political parties’ bill requires parties to have a minimum 10,000 members before they will be official recognised.
The same bill was passed by parliament in December 2012, however President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik returned the bill when it was presented to him to be ratified.
During Tuesday’s (March 5) session, the bill was again passed with 60 out of the 67 members present voting in favour of the bill.
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