MDP says candidate selection delayed as city constituencies remain undetermined

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said it is facing difficulty in finalising candidates for the 4 April local council elections due to the absence of confirmed constituency distributions in cities.

Recent amendments introduced by the government to the Decentralisation Act, including changes to the composition of cities, require the redefinition of constituencies in several locations. This election cycle will also be the first in which GDh. Thinadhoo elects a city council.

However, the Elections Commission (EC) has not yet announced the allocation of constituencies for any city, including those reserved for women councillors.

Speaking at a press conference held at the MDP office on Tuesday, the party’s Deputy Chairman Ibrahim Waheed said the party’s internal rules stipulate that tickets are granted through primaries to candidates who secure the highest vote. He said the party cannot proceed with primaries until the number of seats in each city is known.

“For a political party with rules like ours, it is difficult to hold primaries and award tickets when the number of candidates required in each city remains unclear,” he said.

Waheed said the EC has yet to release constituency details for the cities and claimed there are reports that the government may delay the finalisation of constituencies reserved for women councillors, which are normally determined by drawing lots.

Under the revised Local Government Act, the composition of the Male’ and Fuvahmulah city councils is explicitly defined. The law states:

The number of councillors to be elected in other cities is now based on population size, as follows:

Based on these criteria, Addu City must elect 11 councillors, while HDh. Kulhudhuffushi and GDh. Thinadhoo must each elect seven councillors.