MRM splits as some members move against govt.

Conflict has arisen within Maldives Reform Movement (MRM), the smallest political party in the coalition government, with some of the party’s prominent members accused of working against the government.

MRM, founded by former Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has yet to decide whether it will partner with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) again for the upcoming presidential election. The party is engaged in negotiations with both MDP and Jumhoory Party (JP) – a party which is part of the current coalition government but has decided against continuing its partnership with MDP for the election in September.

MRM, a party of some 2,900 members, has multiple members serving in high-ranking posts within the government – including three cabinet ministers. Some of them have openly pledged their support for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s re-election.

However, MRM’s deputy leader, Aminath Nadira had represented the party in a press conference hosted by former attorney general Dr. Mohamed Munawwar and other opposition leaders on the Chagos dispute on Wednesday.

“That’s what led to the conflict. The party’s exco had decided the party will issue its own statement and hold its own press conference regarding the matter. But the fact that Nadira represented the party in the press conference unbeknownst to the party’s exco shows President Maumoon himself had been aware,” said an exco member who spoke to Sun.

The member said that remarks by the party’s president Faris Maumoon during an emergency exco meeting held Wednesday night revealed he had decided to form a coalition with JP.

“What Faris said last night showed the negotiations with MDP are just for show. Its clear from what he said that MRM will partner with JP,” said the member.

The member said that some 10 members of the party’s exco had decided to leave MRM due to the anti-government views held by the party’s leadership.

Nadira was not immediately available for comment regarding the issue.