EC to facilitate candidates to open campaign expenses account

Elections Commission (EC) has made it easier for presidential candidates to open bank accounts for their campaign-related financial transactions.

EC vice chair and spokesperson Ismail Habeeb tweeted on Saturday that in every presidential election, a special bank account should be opened for all election related expenses. 

"Every candidate for the presidential election should pay all election-related expenses through the newly opened bank account. All financial assistance received by the candidate should be deposited into this newly opened account," he said.

Habeeb said that the commission has been in consultation with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) to facilitate the opening of the account. The central bank has assured that it will make arrangements through the banks for presidential candidates to easily open their accounts, he added.

Four parties and two individuals have announced their candidacy for the September 9 presidential election. They are: