ECM working to introduce ‘Campaign Finance Act’
Akram told RaajjeMV on Wednesday that they will begin work on the legislation next month
Ahmed Akram, member of the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM)
The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) is working to introduce legislation regulating financial matters for campaigning in national elections, says ECM member Ahmed Akram.
Akram told RaajjeMV on Wednesday that they will begin work on the legislation next month, and will be completed ‘shortly’.
He said that the ECM will be seeking the assistance of international organizations such as Transparency International and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as the local Anti-Corruption Commission.
Akram also said that the government of Philippines may be assisting in financing their work to form the draft bill, adding that the country’s campaign finance laws are ‘some of the best in the world’.
Three complaints regarding electoral bribes had been submitted to the ECM during the parliamentary elections held on Saturday.
The current General Elections Act allows parliamentary candidates to spend at a rate of MVR 2,000 per constituent, and candidates for all national elections must provide bank details ahead of their campaign.
