Four political parties in the Maldives have qualified to receive financial assistance from the 2026 state budget, according to newly released data from the Elections Commission.
As of November 25, 2026, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Jumhooree Party (JP), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), and the People’s National Congress (PNC) each have more than 10,000 registered members — the threshold required to receive state funding under the Political Parties Act. The Act stipulates that 0.01 percent of the state budget must be distributed among political parties that surpass the membership requirement.
This marks a reduction from the previous year, when funds were allocated to five parties. The Adhaalath Party (AP), which received state funding last year, will no longer qualify for assistance in 2021 due to its membership falling below the minimum requirement.
Last year, the ruling PNC — then the party with the highest number of members — received the largest allocation from the state budget, followed by the opposition MDP.
Funds Allocated to Political Parties From the Previous Year’s Budget:
- People’s National Congress (PNC): MVR 13,316,689.57
- Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP): MVR 8,454,780.51
- Jumhooree Party (JP): MVR 2,656,598.57
- Maldives Development Alliance (MDA): MVR 1,769,648.69
The Maldives currently has nine registered political parties, though the majority do not meet the 10,000-member threshold required for state funding.
