Over 45 Candidates Fail to Submit Financial Statements, Says ECM

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has disclosed that 48 candidates who participated in the parliamentary elections in April failed to meet the deadline for submitting their financial statements.

During the elections held on April 21 to determine the composition of the new parliamentary assembly, numerous candidates vied for seats in the legislative body.

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The deadline for the submission of financial statements lapsed last Wednesday.

According to Hassan Zakariyya, 320 candidates managed to submit their statements within the specified timeframe, while 48 candidates failed to do so.

Zakariyya noted that some of the candidates among the 48 who missed the deadline did submit their statements afterward.

He highlighted that in accordance with the provisions of the General Elections Act, the commission is unable to accept statements submitted after the stipulated deadline.

The commission is now deliberating on whether to reject the belatedly filed statements or to take further action against the concerned candidates.

A total of 368 candidates contested in the April elections, resulting in a significant victory for the main ruling party, PNC, which secured 67 out of 93 seats. Additionally, eight independents subsequently aligned with the party post-election, boosting the tally of PNC lawmakers to 75, thereby granting the party a substantial supermajority in the upcoming parliamentary assembly.

The incoming parliamentary assembly is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday.