Election Commission Cautions Two Parties Over Activities That Risk Public Order

The Election Commission has issued letters to the Maldivian Democratic Party and the People’s National Front, instructing them to bring their political activities in Malé back within legal limits after a series of rallies and street events that the Commission says have breached accepted norms.

In letters dated 28 April, the Commission said it had observed activities that encourage hostility among the public and risk creating unrest. It reminded both parties that all gatherings must comply with the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act and the code of conduct that governs political parties.

The Commission advised party leaders, members and campaign workers not to target the private lives of individuals, not to make unverified claims that could inflame public sentiment and not to hold disruptive events in residential streets or public squares. It said political activity is welcome when conducted within the law.

The warning comes at a time when the political environment in the capital has been tense. Opposition groups have been holding frequent rallies, and recent weeks have seen a rise in confrontational language across the political spectrum. State institutions have been urging restraint as the country moves through a period of heightened political activity following the local council elections.

The Commission’s letters signal concern that the tone and method of political mobilisation may be drifting away from established norms. It said it expects all parties to take responsibility for ensuring that their activities do not undermine public order or the rights of others.