Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has announced the local council elections will be held on April 10.
ECM announced the election date following extensive discussions with political parties and other relevant stakeholders upon the amendment of the Special Act on Local Council Elections. ECM said preparations for the elections can officially begin on January 29.
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 had to be postponed.
A Special Act on Local Council Elections was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in May 2020, allowing the elections to be postponed. The Act had originally stated that 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.
However, later an amendment bill to the Special Act on Local Council Elections was proposed by the government to allow the elections to be held even if health authorities do not lift the State of Public Health Emergency declared in the Maldives. The bill was passed by the parliament on January 10.
The Special Act on Local Council Elections states the election must be held within an year upon ratification of the Act. The one year duration ends on May 9, this year.
Announcing the new scheduled date for the council elections, President of ECM Ahmed Shareef said the commission does not hold the authority to postpone the election past May 9. Shareef said preparations can now be commenced from January 29 onwards, within the guidelines set by Health Protection Agency (HPA).