Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated it is impossible to conduct the local council elections under the current budget provided for the elections.
Speaking to PSM News, President of ECM Ahmed Shareef said the commission has received a budget of USD 3.3 million for the council elections, which is not enough to hire electoral officials and carry out other preparations for the elections. Shareef noted conducting the elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic would be costly, adding the Ministry of Finance and the Parliament have been notified of the additional expenditure required to conduct the elections in the current situation. He said ECM would need at least USD 4.2 million to carry out the elections.
The local council elections were initially scheduled to be held on April 4, 2020. However, following the declaration of the State of Health Emergency in the Maldives on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the elections were postponed indefinitely.
The Special Act on Local Council Elections was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in May, allowing the elections to be postponed until the COVID-19 outbreak is controlled. The Act states the elections can only be held after health authorities lift the State of Health Emergency and guarantee there is no risk in conducting the elections.
ECM had recently revealed it is preparing to conduct the elections during the first week of March 2021.