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Budget reductions will negatively impact elections: EC

Ahmed Aiham
15 November 2020, MVT 15:33
Members of the Election Commission. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
15 November 2020, MVT 15:33

The Election Commission (EC), on Saturday, noted that any budgetary reductions to the current proposed amount could result in negative impacts to the upcoming Local Council Elections (LCE).

During a meeting tabled by the Parliament's Budget Committee, EC revealed that there was confusion between the two budgets allocated for election purposes, which includes the MVR 25 million proposed for EC's administrative needs and an additional MVR 71 million to host elections.

The figures were initially proposed by the Ministry of Finance for the 2021 State Budget.

"If the current MVR 71 million was reduced, it would be very difficult for us to host a free, transparent and just election", said EC's Vice President Ahmed Akram.

He further noted MVR 15.9 million from the administrative budget was allocated for training purposes, as well as to hire election officials and construct ballot boxes.

Akram added that the budget remains too small as it has restricted employees from growing in their careers, adding that technical staff have left the institution due to such reasons.

EC declared that roughly 6,000 individuals were required for the LCE to be held next year. However, the commission expressed great difficulties in finding officials.

The committee will compile a report on its findings and suggest amendments to the proposed budget before the parliament deliberates over the matter.

Maldives estimates a shortfall of approximately USD 450 million (MVR 6.9 billion) in foreign currency and a state deficit of MVR 13 billion in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the tourism industry, the economic backbone of the country.

In mid-April, the World Bank projected that Maldives would be the worst-hit economy in the South Asian region due to the pandemic.

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