MALE, MALDIVES - A new wave of political change is sweeping the Maldives as parliament members loyal to the Speaker of Parliament and former President, Mohamed Nasheed, are seeking permission to establish a new political party named 'The Democrats'.
This development comes in the wake of the recent formation of "Fikkuregge Dhirun" (Rebirth of an Ideology) by a group of twelve parliament members who left the ruling party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), voicing their grievances against the current government. The formation of The Democrats, however, is intriguing, given that Nasheed, a central figure in these political shifts, remains with the MDP as its president.
The team leading the formation of The Democrats includes key political figures such as former Vice-President Mohamed Shifaz and former Chairman of the Party's Policy Committee, former STO MD Hussain Amr. In addition to applying for permission to form the new party this week, they also intend to start collecting the 3,000 signatures required by Maldivian law to establish a new party.
Despite Nasheed's continuing allegiance to MDP, it's evident that the political landscape is shifting in the Maldives. Many members who were once allies are now pursuing different political ideologies, leading to an increasingly diversified and complex political scene.
The formation of these new parties marks a significant shift from the two-party system that has long dominated Maldivian politics. How these developments will impact the upcoming elections and the future political landscape of the Maldives remains to be seen. Observers will keenly watch how Nasheed responds to these developments within his own party, as the country prepares for the next election cycle.