Government has proposed a number of amendments to the Political Parties Act.
Government has proposed a number of amendments to the Political Parties Act.
The bill submitted by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Dhihdhoo constituency Abdul Latheef Mohamed propose amendments to Article 49 of the Act.
As per the amendment, any persons who contravene the Act can be fined between MVR 30,000 and MVR 75,000.
The party that the person represents can be fined by MVR 100,000.
The Act previously does not allow for fines to be levied against parties.
Article 49 of the Political Parties Act currently states that if a person's name is submitted for membership to a party against regulations, then the person who committed the act can be fined between MVR 5000 and MVR 1000. Additionally, persons who contravene other articles in the Act can be fined between MVR 30,000 and MVR 75,000.
In addition to this, changes have also been proposed to how parties are allocated funding from the State budget. Currently, the total funds disbursed to parties have to be between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of the total annual budget.
The proposed change is to set this as between 0.1 and 0.2 percent of State revenues projected in the annual budget.
Also included is the removal of Article 10, which was added to the Act during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.
Article 10 currently states;
- A candidate who contested in party primaries cannot run for elections in any other capacity
- A registered member of a political party, who has contested in party primaries for any elections held under a law, cannot contest for that election in any other capacity
- A member who has contested in party primaries to gain a party ticket, if they apply to contest in the election through any other capacity, must have their candidacy voided by the Elections Commission
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