The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has released a circular explicitly advising media to refrain from reportage that constitutes anti-campaign against contestants in the upcoming local council elections. 

The circular reminds broadcasters to fully adhere to its regulations, and expresses the commission’s confidence that this would instill trust in the electoral process. 

The commission had further advocated that media keep in mind the current political state of the country, which it described as ‘sensitive’.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has filed a case with the commission over state-broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM) exclusively covering stories about contests on a ruling party ticket. 

The MBC released coverage guidelines for the local council elections on Monday, which advised news sources to refrain from reporting any information that may ‘affect the impartiality’ of the elections and asks broadcasters mindful of laws on freedom of expression and defamation.