The Elections Commission's (EC) authorization was sought on Wednesday to form a new party called the Justice and Development Party.
The founding member of the new party is Dr. Mohamed Athif. Speaking to the press after submitting the application, Athif said the party would gather 3000 members and register before the presidential election.
Dr. Athif announced that the party would contest the presidential election even if the registration process becomes protracted.
"Our registration process might not be complete during that period. But we will contest in the presidential election," Athif said.
The party is being formed by educated individuals and no prominent politician of the Maldives would be seen in the front ranks, he said.
"The people among us are those who've been away from politics, academic people. We are people who want to bring changes to the nation. This is a new leadership," Athif said.
Dr. Athif is the father of Raudha Athif, who died in Bangladesh in 2017.
The Democrats led by former president and parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed sought authorization for registration in late May. There are nine political parties registered in the Maldives at present.
