Former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has said the women’s seats in next year’s local council elections have been allocated according to President Mohamed Muizzu’s wishes.
A total of 646 councillors, including mayors and council presidents, will be elected in the polls. Many prospective candidates have raised concerns over the Elections Commission’s provisional report on constituency allocation.
Fayyaz said no one outside the commission understands how the women’s seats are being designated. He noted that the commission previously decided these seats through a draw, but the process has changed without explanation.
He added that the shift aligns with the preferences of President Muizzu, and said attempts by senior elections officials to please the president have weakened public trust.
Fayyaz further alleged that the commission appears prepared to deliver outcomes favourable to the president in the elections.
The interim report shows that 133 island councils will each elect three members: the council president, one female member, and one other member.
Forty-six islands will elect five councillors: the council president, two female councillors, and two other members.