The Local Government Authority (LGA) has announced that the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected island and city councilors will be held next month, marking a significant milestone in the nation's democratic process.
The ceremony is scheduled for 17 May, precisely five years to the day after the last cohort of councilors took their oaths under the Decentralisation Act.
This symbolic date underscores the completion of a full electoral cycle. The current councilors were sworn in on 17 May 2021, and their successors will officially assume their duties on the anniversary of that event. The ceremony will also incorporate representatives from the recently elected Women's Development Committees. However, these committee members will not undergo a formal swearing-in but will instead sign a pledge of service during the event.
The elections, held successfully on 4 April, saw citizens elect 626 councilors for island councils and 52 for city councils. An equal number of members were voted onto the Women's Development Committees in the same poll.
The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) is currently finalising its official results ahead of the historic ceremony, which will formally inaugurate the new term of local governance.