Elections Commission announces parties and coalitions approved for Maldives' 2026 General Election

The Elections Commission has officially announced the parties and coalitions that have been approved to contest the Maldives' 2026 General Election, including several changes to their registered names. The announcement was made during the official ceremony held to reveal the candidates for the election. According to the Commission, the parties and coalitions that have been approved to run have now formally declared their respective alliances. The Commission announced that the political party formerly known as the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will now be known as the National Independence Party (NIP), and that the coalition formerly known as the People's National Alliance (PNA) will now be known as the National Development Alliance (NDA). The Commission also announced a change in the name of the coalition Jamaat-e-Islami. Separately, the announcement set out further name changes, stating that the party previously known as the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has become the National Independence Party (NIP), that the coalition previously known as the National Development Alliance (NDA) has become the National Unity Alliance (NUA), and that the coalition previously known as the National Alliance (NA) has become the National Development Alliance (NDA). Candidates for the 2026 General Election were announced on February 14, 2026. A total of 360 candidates are contesting the election, and all candidates must submit their applications with complete documents by the deadline; any candidate who fails to submit the necessary documents will not be allowed to participate. The Commission said the names of the approved parties and coalitions were officially announced during the ceremony.