EC approves new political party

Elections Commission of Maldives today approved the establishment of a new political party named Maldives Community Party (MCP).

The Commission said as per Article 12 of the Political Parties Act, permission was issued to form a political party and carry out the activities of a political party to G. Crabtree, Ali Ahmed.

Ali Ahmed previously served in the senior management of the Transport Ministry for many years.

After getting the approval from the Elections Commission, the political party must amass 3,000 signatures before it officially gets registered as a political party. However, only parties with 10,000 members will receive state funding.

Earlier this year, the Commission approved two other political parties; 'Green Party of Maldives' and 'Justice and Development Party'.

Currently 11 political parties are being run in the country. They are Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party, Jumhooree Party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), People's National Congress (PNC), Maldives Thirdway Democrats (MTD), People's National Front (PNF), Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), Maldives National Party (MNP) and The Democrats.

Out of these parties, MDP has the largest membership with 50,851 members. Another 34,698 members are registered to PPM, while ruling party PNC has 28,983 members.