The Maldives government called a special session of parliament on 13 January to pass necessary amendments that would allow the country to hold local council elections even in a state of a public health emergency. 

The local council elections were earlier scheduled for April 2020. The elections were postponed because of the pandemic. Earlier, the Maldives passed Sunset Act which allowed the election commission to delay the local council election until the public health emergency lifted. 

The election commission’s attempt to hold the elections in March 2021 also fell through as the Health Emergency Response Centre (HEOC) extended the public health emergency. Ahmad Shareef, the chairman of the Election Commission, then asked the government to push for legislative corrections so that elections could be held as soon as possible. 

Key legislative amendments have already been submitted to parliament. The provinces, if passed, would empower the Election Commission to hold local council elections amid the state of public emergency. The commission would also be able to announce dates for elections under the fresh amendments.  

Various political leaders, including speaker Mohammad Nasheed, earlier showed their displeasure over any further delay in local council elections.