Ten political parties to be dissolved

Elections Commission (EC) has decided to dissolve ten political parties that have less than 10,000 members.

This decision follows failure by the ten parties to bring their memberships up to the 10,000 mark requirement stated in the Political Parties Act, before the deadline given by EC.

EC earlier gave three months for parties to increase membership to 10,000, and has said that the ten parties will be dissolved on 7 February 2014.

The ten parties are Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), Dhivehi Rayyithunge Social Democratic Party, Maldivian National Congress, People’s Alliance (PA), People’s Party, Dhivehi Gaumee Party, Social Liberal Party, Maldivian Labour Party, Gaumee Itthihad Party (GIP), and Maldives Reform Movement (MRM).

GIP and MRM have already announced their councils’ decisions to dissolve the parties.

Six political parties remain registered in the Maldives. They are Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), Jumhooree Party (JP), Adhaalath Party, and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).