No By-Election for Vacant Parliamentary Seats, Says ECM

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) clarified that there will be no by-election to fill the five vacant constituencies in the 19th Parliament. 

The seats became vacant following the resignation of the members representing them, who were selected for the President’s cabinet.

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The newly formed cabinet saw the swearing-in of Ministers at the Presidential Palace yesterday.

Vice-Chairman of ECM Ismail Habeeb clarified to PSM Media that the resignations do not impose a deadline for re-election. Consequently, no by-election will be conducted to fill the vacant seats in these constituencies, as per Habeeb’s statement.

Habeeb further informed that the 20th parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in late March or early April next year. The exact date, he mentioned, will be determined in consultation with the Parliament.

According to the Constitution, a member of Parliament is required to elect a representative to fill a vacated seat within 60 days from the date of the vacancy. However, the Constitution also stipulates that if the vacancy occurs within six months of the next general election, a member shall not be elected to the vacant seat.

In addition to the five vacant parliamentary seats, ECM has decided not to hold a by-election for the Faresmaathodaa constituency. The seat became vacant when the former representative, Al-Ustaz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, was elected as the Vice-President.