The People’s National Congress (PNC) has said its regulations require members of the party’s ‘Mathee Majlis’, or upper parliament, to be elected through an open vote.
In a press release issued yesterday, the PNC said it issued the clarification in response to reports and commentary regarding the voting mechanism for its internal elections.
The party said its internal election procedures are outlined in the party’s by-laws, which are registered with the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) and available on the party’s website.
The PNC cited Article 69 of Chapter 7 of its regulations, which states that matters concerning the Mathee Majlis will be decided by a show of hands. It also states that members of the party’s parliament, or party council, will be elected by an open vote at the party’s Supreme Council.
The PNC said the voting method therefore does not violate its regulations and rejected claims that the decision was made by the committee established to oversee the internal elections.
The party said the matter is clearly provided for in its regulations and that it will continue to conduct the elections in accordance with those rules.
