Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has stated the decision of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to ban Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof from internal elections violates the Political Party Act. The electoral body made the ruling following a complaint submitted by Mahloof.
In a tweet, Mahloof cited ECM stating the decision to ban him from internal elections was not in accordance with the Political Party Act or the regulations of MDP. As such, ECM has informed Mahloof and MDP that such a decision can only be made in line with the Political Party Act or by making the necessary amendments to the party's regulations.
MDP disqualified Mahloof from running in the internal elections for not meeting the criteria set by the MDP steering committee. The main ruling party had banned all individuals who were involved at any level in the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) from contesting in any of the internal elections of the party.
Furthermore, MDP had also banned individuals named in any of the lists publicised by the Presidential Commission on the Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom) or the Presidential Commission on Corruption and State Asset Recovery, in relation to any crime.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih suspended Mahloof on June 9 from his role as the youth minister after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) forwarded charges of corruption against him to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO). However, the PGO has not yet made a decision on pressing the charges in court.