The leader of the Jumhooree Party, Qasim Ibrahim, has made several complaints regarding the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Jumhooree Party is a part of the ruling coalition.
At the party conference held on Friday to discuss how to proceed in the upcoming presidential election, Qasim, who is considered an important player in the Maldives’ elections, raised several misgivings about the two main parties in the Maldives.
He began his speech by reflecting on the injustices he suffered during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.
He highlighted how difficult it was to hold a conference such as the one he was speaking at during Yameen’s presidency and recalled how all the opposition leaders at the time were in jail or in exile. He described Yameen’s five years as an extremely difficult, politically turbulent period.
The local business tycoon went on to speak about how he was unlawfully sentenced in absentia, denying him his constitutional right to be tried in person. Yameen’s administration sentenced Qasim to three years of imprisonment over bribery charges. He was allowed to leave for Singapore for medical treatment after being sentenced. He later moved to Germany under political asylum and resided there until the Supreme Court overturned his sentence in late 2018. Qasim had even collapsed in the courtroom and was rushed to the hospital on a stretcher before his sentencing hearing.
Qasim tearfully recalled the hardships he endured during this time, but he said he was not spiteful or vindictive.
"It’s not something to hold on to. I hold no grudges against anyone; my heart is clear," he said. He affirmed that this "bitter experience" will not be factored in while negotiating with PPM now.
Jumhooree Party (JP) leader and Maamigili MP Qasim (L) with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President and Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed at the 4th National Jumhooree Party Conference held at Dharubaaruge on 24th February 2023. PHOTO: JP
Qasim then mentioned his experience working with MDP over the years. Their collaboration began in the 2008 presidential election, when Qasim, who also ran, supported Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed in the runoff round. Instead of backing Nasheed again in his 2013 presidential bid, Qasim formed a coalition with Yameen, which contributed to him securing the election that year. However, in 2018, the Jumhooree Party formed a coalition with the MDP again against Yameen.
Qasim’s complaint about MDP was that the party seldom followed what was mutually agreed on. He said that it was important to involve the coalition partners in all aspects of governance, including policy making and its implementation. Citing an example, Qasim said that they agreed to move forward with parliamentary and local council elections as a united coalition; however, parties end up putting forward their own candidates.
"This is something that a lot of our members complain about," he said regarding the elections.
Noting that no presidential election is won without the backing of Jumhooree Pary, Qasim said that they are easily forgotten once a party comes to power. All the popular policies are attributed to the majority party, and the coalition partners get no credit for their part in positive policy changes. He said that there are several competent Jumhooree Party members leading state-owned enterprises, as well as ministers, deputy ministers, and state ministers who are contributing wholesomely to the current administration.
"We’ve been having similar experiences since 2008. There are lessons we can learn from these patterns."
Prominent politicians from different political parties as well as foreign dignitaries attended the "4th National Conference of Jumhooree Party." MDP’s President and former President Nasheed, Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM)’s President Faris Maumoon, and leaders of the Adhaalath Party including Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdullah were seen in attendance.
At the conference, members also voted on amendments to party regulations and other important matters, including electing people to important roles within the party.