The by-election for the vacant post of Malé City mayor as well as members of the city council, is slated for 13 January 2024.

Vice President of the Elections Commission, Ismail Habeeb announced the commission’s decision to schedule the by-election for the Malé City mayor and members, during January.

This comes after former Malé City mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election of 2023 and was sworn in as the country’s eighth president on November 17 this year.

Habeeb earlier revealed that the vote to elect a new mayor to the capital city must be held before January 17 next year.

Habeeb went on to reveal that the application process for membership will be opened on December 13 this year.

The official results of the by-election will be announced on January 15.

The law requires elections to be held within 60 days of the vacancy. Therefore, the Local Government Authority (LGA) would notify the Elections Commission of the vacancy of the mayoral post. President Muizzu earlier delegated his duties of Malé City Mayor to Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh to be more involved in the government transition process.

Some have already begun expressing interest in running for the vacant mayoral seat. As such, the former administration’s Minister of Youth Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof earlier announced that he would contest for the post as the candidate from the then-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Member of Malé City Council, Mohamed Saif Fathih also announced that he would contest for the post as the candidate from Nasheed’s ‘The Democrats’.