The Elections Commission (EC) of the Maldives, in collaboration with the Auditor General’s Office, has initiated the process of gazetting a specialized regulation designed to oversee the income and expenditures of political parties, specifically focusing on the utilization of public tax funds.

Speaking to state media, EC Member Hassan Zakariyya revealed that the new framework was finalized following two years of extensive consultations with all registered political parties. He emphasized that while financial record-keeping has generally improved, the absence of a uniform standard has previously led to discrepancies between party reports, international auditing standards, and the Maldives’ national financial regulations. This new regulation is expected to provide a permanent solution to these alignment issues.

Under the Political Parties Act, all parties—regardless of whether they receive state funding—are legally mandated to submit an annual financial statement audited by a licensed professional to the EC within the first three months of the calendar year. Zakariyya stressed that the public has a right to know how their money is being spent and confirmed that the Commission will monitor and take action against even minor discrepancies identified by auditors.

The EC has already taken disciplinary measures against three parties this year for failing to meet reporting deadlines. The Maldives National Party (MNP) and the Adhaalath Party failed to submit their statements, while the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) submitted its report one week past the deadline. The Commission noted that in such cases, both the political party and the individual responsible for its financial affairs are subject to fines.