Local political parties have been given their annual allowances, the Elections Commission has said.

The commission said that a total of MVR 2.4 million was given out to parties. Of this, 7.4 million was allocated to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), 2.5 million to the Jumhooree Party (JP), and 2.6 million to the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was allocated a total of 11.5 million, although the commission has suspended paying 8.6 million of this amount, until a Civil Court case involving the party concludes.

The PPM has a total of 48,129 members, MDP has 29,008 members, MDA has 10,648 members, and the JP has 10,090 members.

Maldives’ political parties act stipulates that the parties with more than 10,000 members are eligible for this allowance. Allowances have to be paid within the first three months of the year.

The commission is required to provide a sum between 0.1 to 0.2 percent of the state’s annual budget as allowances.