Maldives Sets 17 March as Date for Parliamentary Elections

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) declared that the 2024 Parliamentary Elections will be held on 17 March, during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. ECM defended the date by citing administrative hurdles for a post-Ramadan vote, including school examinations coinciding with the week before Eid al-Fitr and government holidays in the final ten days of Ramadan. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed concerns that ECM was succumbing to pressure from the ruling coalition to hold the vote during Ramadan, contradicting advice from the National Advisory Committee and the Parliament Independent Institutions Committee. Vice Chairman Ismail Habeeb acknowledged potential low voter turnout. At a National Advisory Committee meeting on 27 December 2023, all political parties except the ruling Progressive-National Coalition advocated for a post-Ramadan election. The incumbent 19th parliament's term ends on 28 May 2024, and the ECM is mandated to start preparations 120 days before the term ends.

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) declared that the 2024 Parliamentary Elections will be held on 17 March, during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. ECM defended the date by citing administrative hurdles for a post-Ramadan vote, including school examinations coinciding with the week before Eid al-Fitr and government holidays in the final ten days of Ramadan. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed concerns that ECM was succumbing to pressure from the ruling coalition to hold the vote during Ramadan, contradicting advice from the National Advisory Committee and the Parliament Independent Institutions Committee. Vice Chairman Ismail Habeeb acknowledged potential low voter turnout. At a National Advisory Committee meeting on 27 December 2023, all political parties except the ruling Progressive-National Coalition advocated for a post-Ramadan election. The incumbent 19th parliament's term ends on 28 May 2024, and the ECM is mandated to start preparations 120 days before the term ends.

The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) declared that the 2024 Parliamentary Elections will be held on 17 March, during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. ECM defended the date by citing administrative hurdles for a post-Ramadan vote, including school examinations coinciding with the week before Eid al-Fitr and government holidays in the final ten days of Ramadan. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed concerns that ECM was succumbing to pressure from the ruling coalition to hold the vote during Ramadan, contradicting advice from the National Advisory Committee and the Parliament Independent Institutions Committee. Vice Chairman Ismail Habeeb acknowledged potential low voter turnout. At a National Advisory Committee meeting on 27 December 2023, all political parties except the ruling Progressive-National Coalition advocated for a post-Ramadan election. The incumbent 19th parliament's term ends on 28 May 2024, and the ECM is mandated to start preparations 120 days before the term ends.

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