Malé, Maldives – Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that the date of the upcoming presidential election will be announced within this month.
Speaking to a local media outlet, Elections Commission Chairman Fuwad Thowfeek said that the work of preparing a schedule for the presidential election has already started.
The schedule is expected to be finalized before the end of this month and an exact date for the election will be fixed, he said.
According to the law, the presidential election must be opened 120 days before the date of the swearing-in.
The total budget for the presidential election is MVR 90 million in next year’s budget. However, the commission estimates that the first round of the presidential election alone will cost MVR 95 million.
If a second round of elections is required, a total budget of MVR 120 million will be required with an additional MVR 25 million.
Only the opposition PPM has officially nominated a presidential candidate and handed over the presidential ticket. The party’s presidential candidate is party leader and former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
MDP presidential primary is rumored to be held early months of next year. MDP has said it will open the primary after the administrative arrangements are completed.
While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced his intention to contest the primary, President Mohammed Nasheed has not yet officially announced a decision. However, his close associates say that President Nasheed is preparing to contest the MDP primary.
