Elections Commission calls for applications to run for seats in 18th Parliament

Elections Commission has called for applications by candidates wishing to run for parliament seats at the 18th Parliamentary Election scheduled for 22 March 2014.

The commission said that interested candidates can apply between tomorrow and 11 February.

The current or 17th parliament consists of 77 MPs, but 85 MPs will be elected for the 18th parliament.

Requirements stated by the Elections Commission for MPs include being a citizen of the Maldives and not a citizen of a foreign country, being a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam, being over 18 years of age, and being of sound mind.

Elections Commission said that a person shall be disqualified from election as an MP if he has a decreed debt which is not being paid as provided in the judgement, if he has been convicted of a criminal offence and is serving a sentence of more than twelve months, if he has been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than twelve months unless a period of three years has elapsed since has been released or pardoned, and if he is a member of the Judiciary.

Elections Commission said that forms can be submitted from tomorrow onwards with a fee of MVR 5,000.

The Parliamentary Election will be held on 22 March 2014 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and the official results will be announced on 29 March 2014.