Eight constituencies will be added to parliament next term: EC

Maldives Elections Commission (EC) has stated that eight constituencies will be added to the parliament for the new term, next year.

President of the Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeq told Sun today that population statistics received by the Commission last month show that constituencies have to added to seven electoral areas including Male’, eight seats in total. He said that the Commission is now working on finalizing the constituencies.

Atolls Haa Dhaalu, Noonu, Alif Dhaalu, Thaa, Gaafu Dhaalu and Addu City will all receive one additional constituency. Two seats will be added to the Capital Male’.

Elections Commission states that the new additions will increase the number of seats in parliament to 89, from the current number 77 seats.

EC has not yet announced the names of the additional constituencies.

However, the Commission said that their number of additional constituencies are now final and that it will not change.

“We will consult the political parties regarding the additional constituencies we have decided. Constituencies will be final once they receive parliament’s endorsement,” Fuad Thaufeeq said.

He said that their current formula on determining constituencies is based on the equal distribution of population with regard to geography.

“The draft of the constituencies has been assembled after considering the population and geography, of which island’s are most close to each other. It is possible for the current draft to change,” Fuad said.

Parliamentary elections will be held in March next year.