Supporters of parliament speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed have filed applications to form a new opposition party.
MP Hassan Latheef handed over the applications to form the Democrats party. Politicians who support Nasheed attended the elections commission on Sunday afternoon.
Nasheed supporters at the elections commission. -- Photo: Abdulla Iyan/ Adhadhu
They decided to form the new party after 12 MPs left the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) over its expulsion of a Fikurehge Dhirun faction MP last week.
Despite his supporters' efforts to form a new party, Nasheed remains the president of MDP and has not commented on the matter.
What is Fikurehge Dhirun that led to the Democrats?
Fikurehge Dhirun or ‘Reviving an Ideology' was formed by Nasheed after his defeat in the MDP’s presidential primary earlier this year.
Nasheed lost to incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih amidst increasing disputes with his former loyalist.
Solih also secured party control with his followers in senior posts. This meant that Nasheed was unable to carry out political activities within the MDP and was increasingly isolated from the party leadership.
Nasheed is one of the founding members of MDP but decided to withdraw support to the government alleging the leadership of straying away from its principles.
He formed the ‘Fikurehge Dhirun’ faction to take back control of the party. However, his loyalists’ in the party have been under pressure for violating the party constitution by joining opposition events.
Last week, Nasheed supporters left the MDP and announced efforts to form a new opposition. Thirteen MPs from the Democrats will hold parliament seats.
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb said the new party will field a candidate for the September 9 presidential election.
He alleged that the ruling MDP has lost its democratic values and has turned into a network of corruption and intimidation.
