Abstract:
The National Integrity System of the Maldives is based on the following key
institutions: the core government agencies of Legislature, the Executive
and the Judiciary; the public sector agencies, the Civil Service and law
enforcement agencies; the Elections Commission, Anti-Corruption
Commission, and Auditor General’s Office; the media, Civil Society
Organisations, political parties and private sector businesses.
Whilst there are strengths associated with some of the institutions
intellectually, the interconnectedness in their formation and functioning
entails a considerable number of institutional shortcomings that weaken the
overall National Integrity System of the Maldives. Most importantly, political
bias created through intermingled political thinking and practices embedded
in key political institutions, including the legislature and the Executive,
reduces the capacity of other institutions to function independently.
Moreover, political bias embedded in the institutional framework further
reduces the level of accountability, transparency and integrity functions of
almost all the institutions.
