Only 66 out of 140 new member applications by MRM valid, EC says
Habeeb said the commission had given the MRM three months to achieve the 3,000-member threshold required by law.
The Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), which was dissolved by the Elections Commission on Wednesday, had to be dissolved due to the cancellation of many of the forms submitted within the deadline given to the party to appoint its members, the commission has said.
Elections Commission Vice President Ismail Habeeb made the remarks while speaking at a meeting to grant the permission to form The Democrats, a party headed by speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
Habeeb said the commission had given the MRM three months to achieve the 3,000-member threshold required by law.
"When we looked at the applications submitted by them, 140 were submitted. However, in the first of these checks, only 66 forms were found to be valid."
Habeeb said applications will be accepted only after verifying the photograph on the form, information about the mother, details of witnesses and if the ID card number is legit. He also said that if the ID card has expired, the application will not be accepted.
MRM Secretary General Abdul Aleem told Atoll Times that the party has submitted enough applications for the total membership to reach 3,000, through the EC's portal before the deadline
MRM president Faris Maumoon said that the commission's decision to dissolve MRM on the grounds that it did not have the legal number of members shows the extent of corruption in the country and the lack of enforcement of the law.
In these difficult times, Faris urged party members and supporters to stand up against the decision and openly fight against political corruption, money and influence.
