Elections Commission (EC) on Tuesday authorised the former president of the National Integrity Commission (NIC), Yoosuf Maaniu Mohamed, to form a new political party.
According to a tweet by the electoral watchdog, the new political party is called the 'National Democratic Congress'.
Although EC authorised Maaniu to form the new party, it can only be officially registered after it attains 3,000 members. The National Democratic Congress must also hold an assembly to form the party, with at least 300 members in attendance, and approve its charter.
Furthermore, the party must gain 10,000 members to qualify for government funds allocated for political parties.
The last political party registered at EC was the Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.