Nasheed to form new party

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

• Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
• Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
• North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
• West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
• Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
• North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
• Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
• Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
• Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
• Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
• North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
• Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir

All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament. 

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.