Application opened for candidates defeated in party primaries

Elections Commission has open application for candidates defeated in party primaries who wish to proceed with contesting in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

In a statement over its official Twitter account this Tuesday morning, EC announced candidacy application will be open until 4 pm on March 4.

ސިޔާސީ ޕާޓީތަކުގެ ޕްރައިމަރީގައި ބައިވެރިވެ، ނާކާމިޔާބުވެފައިވާ ފަރާތްތަކަށް، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިންތިޚާބަށް ކުރިމަތިލުމުގެ ފުރުޞަތު 2019 ފެބްރުވަރީ 25 ވާ ހޯމަ ދުވަހުން ފެށިގެން 2019 މާރިޗު 04 ވާ ހޯމަ ދުވަހުގެ ހަވީރު 04:00ގެ ނިޔަލަށް ހުޅުވާލައިފި

— Elections Commission (@ElectionsMv) February 26, 2019

The parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on April 6.

EC is required by law to hold the candidate number draw one month before the date of the election. This means the application process for candidates will close on March 4, and the EC will need to hold the candidate number draw the next day, on March 5.

The Supreme Court, last Monday, ruled that Article 10 of Political Parties Act – which had disqualified candidates defeated in internal elections by political parties from contesting in national elections – clashed with the constitutional rights of citizens to contest in elections.

The court annulled the article of law, and ordered EC to re-open candidacy application for the upcoming parliamentary elections specifically to allow candidates defeated in primaries to contest in the parliamentary elections if they so wished.

The court order specifically instructs EC to keep application open until March 4.