Malé, Maldives — 59 candidates have withdrawn from the Local Council Elections and the Women’s Development Committee Elections 2020.
On June 23, opportunities were granted by the Elections Commission (EC) to candidates for withdrawal from the LCE and Women’s Development Committee Elections slated for 2020 if needed.
EC later revealed that out of 59 candidates, 40 had withdrawn from the council elections and that the remaining 19 candidates had withdrawn from the Women’s Development Committee Elections.
It is noted that 20 of the candidates -making for majority- who withdrew from the council elections were independent candidates. Other candidates who withdrew include of 11 candidates representing main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and 4 candidates from each Jumhooree Party (JP) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Furthermore, there were 14 candidates who withdrew from the Women’s Development Committee Elections. While two candidates who withdrew were from PPM, the remaining three were independent candidates.
While both elections were initially to be held in April this year, the president had delayed the elections to be held by January 6, 2021, during April.
