The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has decided to impose fines on the three candidates that contested in the Guraidhoo Constituency by-election for their failure to submit financial statements.
ECM stated that the decision was made as the candidates failed to meet the requirement of submitting their financial statements within the deadline. The regulations state that registered auditors must submit the financial statements of the candidates within 21 days of the election. These statements are expected to provide detailed information of the campaign expenses and disclose the sources of campaign funding.
ECM stated that the three candidates will be issued fines of USD389, and fines will also be issued to their respective agents. They will be required to pay the fine by July 15.
Ibrahim Shaz, the candidate of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), won the Guraidhoo Constituency by-election. It is the first time MDP won the Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat. The results showed that MDP candidate Shaz won with 50% or 1,346 votes while the candidate of the main opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Hussain Riza received 1,226 votes, and the candidate of the Maldives National Party (MNP) Ali Areef received 122 votes.
The by-election was held on April 15 in Guraidhoo, Maafushi, and Gulhi in Kaafu Atoll. A total of two ballot boxes were placed in Guraidhoo, two were placed in Maafushi, and one box was placed in Gulhi. A total of 3,423 individuals were eligible to cast their vote in the by-election.
The Guraidhoo Constituency Parliament seat became vacant after Parliamentarian Ibrahim Riza passed away on February 23 while undergoing treatment for cancer in Malaysia. It is the second time a by-election was held during the current parliamentary term. The first by-election was held after the death of Parliamentarian Hussain Waheed.