Nasheed says by-election cost not excessive
Nasheed likened the MVR 160,000 cost of such an election to a “parliament tea-time cost”.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday said that he does not believe that there are too many by-elections being held to appoint people to vacant positions in Women's Development Committees (WDCs) and local councils.
Elections Commission (EC) has previously complained to the parliament regarding the high cost of holding by-elections to replace resigning members of women's committees.
Nasheed made the statement on Wednesday addressing the bill submitted by Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq on behalf of the government to find a solution to the issue.
The amendment stipulates:
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Local Government Authority (LGA) should issue Elections Commission (EC) to hold by-elections within 365 days (one year) instead of holding by-elections within two months.
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The result is that instead of holding by-elections separately for every vacancy, the commission will be given the opportunity to hold by-elections in groups, at the same time, reducing the cost.
Nasheed, presiding over the Wednesday parliament sitting, said that by-elections are an important tool that can familiarise people with the processes of democracy, and ascertain rally statistics of the people for their political parties.
"When an election is concluded, you shall know you have 40% or 30% of the people’s support. The cost of holding an election is MVR 160,000; this is a beautiful Saturday activity that demonstrates rungs of democracy," Nasheed said.
Nasheed does not believe that the elections cost too much. He likened the MVR 160,000 cost of such an election to a “parliament tea-time cost”.
He said that by-elections are being reduced because political parties find the campaigning arduous.
Overview:
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Elections Commission has spent MVR 1.4 million to hold by-elections for women's committees up to June this year.
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MVR 1.5 million had been allocated from the state budget to hold such elections this year.
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The commission estimates at least 50 more elections will be required in the remainder of this year.
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If all the elections are to be held as estimated, over MVR 7 million will have to be spent on it.
