Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated legislative changes are required to conduct the local council elections as planned.
ECM has been preparing to conduct the local council elections in March 2021. However, the Special Act on Local Council Elections, ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih last May, states the elections can only be held after the State of Public Health Emergency is lifted, and health authorities announce that it is safe to conduct the elections. While the State of Public Health Emergency is set to expire on January 5, health authorities have advised to extend the State of Health Emergency, considering the current situation of COVID-19 in the country as well as around the world.
Speaking to PSM News, President of ECM Ahmed Shareef said the commission is currently waiting for January 5, when the Director General of Public Health makes a decision on extending or lifting the State of Health Emergency. He said if the health emergency is lifted on January 5, ECM can continue preparations to conduct the elections in March as currently planned. However, he said new legislations would be required to conduct the elections if the health emergency is extended.
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 first postponed to April 18, which was the latest date to hold the elections according to the law. ECM later made the decision to postpone the elections indefinitely, as COVID-19 continued to spread in the country.
The Special Act on Local Council Elections was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in May, allowing the elections to be postponed. 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.