The People’s Majlis Committee on Independent Institutions, has forwarded the committee’s report of the motion on the Local Council Elections 2020 to the parliament floor.

The People's Majlis is currently working on a Sunset Bill regarding the elections, which states that voting should be held by 6 January 2021.

The bill went through the committee process and it’s chair, Addu-Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam submitted to parliament during Wednesday’s online sitting.

Although the motion states that the latest date on which the elections may be held is January 6 2021, the committee has amended the elections act mandating the Local Council Elections and Women’s Development Committee Elections to be held within a year after the amendments are implemented.

Further, the MP revealed that while a specific date to hold the elections has not been set under the amendment, the one-year period was given in order to vest the powers to allocate a date for the elections, to the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM).

The report further seeks to dissolve the suspension of Civil Service employees among the candidates vying for the elections.

On April 13, ECM delayed both elections indefinitely at a time fears of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, sweeping across the globe at a fast-rate have been increasing in the Maldives.

EC announced the decision to delay the elections on 12 March, the same day the State of Public Health Emergency was declared. Elections were initially scheduled for 4 April, however, it was delayed until 18 April amid Covid-19 fears.