A staggering total of MVR 13 million has been allocated to the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) from the state budget for 2025.
The Elections Commission of Maldives (EC) revealed that out of the political parties registered with the commission, those that had 10,000 members as of the day the People's Majlis approved the 2025 budget have been allocated a share of the MVR 27,981,256, which represents 0.01 percent of the state revenue set aside for political parties in the 2025 state budget.
According to the information publicized by the commission, the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) received the largest allocation. The main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), received the second-largest amount. The third-largest allocation went to the Jumhooree Party (JP). In addition to this, Adhaalath Party (AP) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) also received funds.
While funds were allocated to five parties, four parties had outstanding fines deducted for violating laws and regulations.
The main opposition party was the only party that did not have any fines deducted. PNC and MDA each had fines of MVR 10,000, while JP had a fine of MVR 15,000, and AP had a fine of MVR 35,000.
As of 31 December 2024, the main ruling party had 68,968 members. MDP had 43,755 members. JP had 13,826 members, while MDA had 9,210 members, and AP had 9,049 members.
The political parties eligible for state budget funding are determined every year based on those that have at least 10,000 members on the day the People's Majlis approves the budget for the upcoming year. Although parties are determined on that day, the funds are allocated based on the number of members in each party at the end of the year.
This year's budget was approved on 27 November 2024. As a result, both AP and MDA lost over a thousand members by 31 December 2024.