Maldives
2016
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties.
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties.
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties.
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties.
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties. Source
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The donation bans are the same for candidates as for political parties. Source
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
No position of a government official, no government staff, no government property, no government building shall be used in favour of a party.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
. Source
Page 20:'Candidates are limited to spending a total sum calculated on the basis of 1500 Rufiyaa (MVR) per each eligible elector from the constituency where she/he is standing. Individual contributions must not exceed 0.5% of this amount (2% for contributions by a legal entity).' (Source: The Commonwealth Expert Team (2009), Maldives People?s Majlis (Parlimentary) Elections 9 May 2009, Commonwealth Secretariat) P 13, 'The contributions given by an individual to a candidate for election expenses should not exceed by more than 0.5% of the campaign spending limit and the contributions given by a legal entity to the candidate for election expenses should not exceed by more than 2% of the campaign spending limit' (Source: Transparency Maldives (2011) Transparency in Political Financing in Maldives, CRINIS Research Project) |
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Limit for natural person is 0.5% of the total spending limit (2% for legal entity)
Comment
.
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, regularly
Comment
.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Registration as a political party
Comment
The political party must be registered at the time of distribution to qualify.
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal Number of members
Comment
40% distributed equally, 60% in accordance to size of party membership.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
Only to Presidential candidates
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Not applicable
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Both public and private media. Only in presidential elections.
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
The limit is MVR 1,500 [I$ 190] per eligible elector in each constituency.
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
Comment
Political parties only submit annual reports.
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Comment
Reports by candidates to the Elections Commission.
Reports by political parties to the Minister of Home Affairs. |
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
EMB
Comment
.
|
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Fines
|
