The bill passed with 60 votes in favour and five against.
The bill proposed by the government to reduce state budget allocations to political parties has been accepted by parliament and forwarded to committee for further review.
The bill passed with 60 votes in favour and five against.
The amendment, submitted by ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) MP for Dhihdhoo, Abdul Latheef Mohamed, proposed changes to how parties are allocated funds from the state budget. Currently, parties receive between 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent of the total annual budget. The proposed change would base this allocation on between 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent of projected state revenue in the annual budget.
The bill also proposes to increase the fine for violations of the Political Parties Act from MVR 30,000 to MVR 75,000. Currently, the Act stipulates fines between MVR 5,000 to MVR 10,000.
Additionally, 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.
The amendment also calls for 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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