Under 70 characters: Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has introduced a special portal to report bribery cases for the upcoming presidential election.
ACC announced that individuals who engage in electoral bribery can initiate a case via the dedicated portal. The portal is structured to ensure the confidentiality of the individual's identity, while updates on the case will be communicated to the individual in an anonymous fashion. ACC also assured protection for whistleblowers and urged individuals to provide comprehensive information through the portal. Notably, cases falling under the jurisdiction of ACC will only be officially registered if submitted through the portal.
The ACC has released guidelines aimed at mitigating the risk of corruption in relation to elections. These guidelines incorporate international principles and technical standards designed to prevent electoral corruption, addressing common concerns and issues raised during election periods. The primary objectives of these guidelines encompass offering insights into preventing corrupt practices and vulnerabilities within electoral processes, while upholding integrity across all stages of elections. Furthermore, these guidelines serve to counsel and direct government entities, candidates, and political parties to conduct their election-related activities transparently and fairly, thereby minimising the potential for corruption.
In addition to these aspects, the guidelines also provide advice on how political parties and candidates should handle fundraising, expenditure, and campaign assistance, as well as how public servants should participate in campaigns. They also outline rules regarding the use of state resources, finances, and positions for campaigning, and stress the prohibition of bribery, vote buying, and selling. Overall, the guidelines underline the importance of maintaining a corruption-free environment throughout all election stages to ensure public trust in the democratic system of the Maldives.