MVR 13 million from the 2025 state budget has been sent to the bank for disbursement to the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), according to the Elections Commission of Maldives.

The funds are part of MVR 27.98 million allocated to political parties in the 2025 budget, representing 0.01 percent of projected state revenue, to be distributed among registered parties with at least 10,000 members as of the date the People’s Majlis approved the budget.

The Elections Commission stated that the funds were processed and sent to banks on Monday for deposit into party accounts.

According to the commission, PNC received the largest share of the allocation, followed by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The Jumhooree Party (JP) received the third-largest amount, while the Adhaalath Party (AP) and the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) also received funding.

While five political parties received state funding under the 2025 budget, four of them had fines deducted for violations of laws and regulations, according to the Elections Commission. MDP was the only party to receive its full allocation without any penalties.

The ruling PN) and the MDA each had MVR 10,000 deducted, while JP was fined MVR 15,000. AP faced the largest deduction, with a fine of MVR 35,000.

Under the Political Parties Act, the state allocates 0.1 percent of estimated annual revenue to fund political parties that meet a membership threshold. For the 2025 budget, a total of MVR 27.98 million was distributed among parties with at least 10,000 members on the date the budget was passed by the People’s Majlis, 27 November 2024.

However, the actual amount disbursed to each party was calculated based on membership figures as of 31 December 2024. Notably, both the Adhaalath Party and MDA had fallen below the 10,000-member threshold by year-end, each losing over 1,000 members in the span of just over a month. Despite this drop, they still received funding based on their earlier eligibility.

According to Article 35 of the Political Parties Act, funding is calculated at a rate of MVR 193.23 per member, based on year-end membership numbers. Only parties with 10,000 or more members on the date of budget approval are eligible to receive a share of the state funding.