President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the fourth amendment to the Political Parties Act (Act No. 4/2013). The amendment was passed by Parliament during the 49th sitting of the 20th Majlis on Wednesday, 13 November 2024.
Under the new amendment, if a registered political party is dissolved as per the law, its logo, colours, insignia, and other similar markers cannot be used by any other political party for a period of five years from the date of dissolution.
The amendment also clarifies the statutes governing the registration of political parties in the Maldives.
Additionally, the amendment revises Section 35 of the Political Parties Act, requiring that budgetary allocations for political parties be explicitly included in the national budget and disbursed within the year. The allocated figure must fall between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent of the annual national budget.
The bill further addresses penalties for electoral law violations. If a political party breaches electoral laws—excluding cases involving falsified forms—the party will be fined MVR 100,000, while individuals responsible will face penalties ranging from MVR 30,000 to MVR 75,000.
The amendment comes into effect following its ratification and publication in the Government Gazette.
The Political Parties Act sets out the rules and regulations for the formation, registration, and operation of political parties in the Maldives. It also governs how parties recruit members, conduct themselves during general elections, manage funding, and handle dissolution and other administrative matters.