Following the swearing-in of the new People's Majlis today, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), faces a difficult journey for the next five years. The entire state is under the full control of the rival People's National Congress (PNC).
Only 12 MPs out of the 93 MPs in the new Parliament belong to the MDP, the largest political party in the Maldives. However, the MDP has a good track record of producing beneficial results in the Parliament and the Special Assembly although the party had few MPs.
"MDP always works for the sake of the people. We will certainly do that work in the Parliament," MDP parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Nazil told Adhadhu after taking oath for a second term as the MP for Hithadhoo Dhekunu.
The MDP did a lot of work in the 19th Parliament as well. A total of 210 bills were introduced and 178 bills were passed, including those that brought about revolutionary changes in various fields.
However, the results of the parliamentary election after 513 sessions of the 19th Parliament with 87 MPs and a majority for MDP showed that the public has little confidence in MPs. Only five of the 65 MPs elected to the 19th Parliament on the MDP ticket were re-elected to the 20th Parliament.
"No matter how small our number, we will continue to uphold the party's principles. We will continue in the spirit of the MDP as before," said MP Hussain Ziyad (Fitte) after securing the Vaikaradhoo seat for a second consecutive time.
The MDP MPs will work in the Parliament for the next five years to regain the confidence they lost after heavy defeats in two elections. It will be difficult to gain that trust unless MDP MPs scrutinize the Parliament, which is expected to rubber stamp everything the government wants and must also hold the government accountable.
“We will do a good job of holding the government accountable and monitoring other state institutions in this Parliament,” said MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who is representing Galolhu Dhekunu for a second time.
There were few MPs in the minority in the 19th Parliament too. Meekail believes that the minority had a voice in the 19th Parliament although the MDP controlled a supermajority. There are already questions among MDP MPs whether they will get that opportunity in the new Parliament.
"Other parties were allowed to chair some committees even when MDP had a supermajority. I hope that this Parliament will likewise be able to put in place those safeguards to ensure that the voice of the minority is not silenced," he said.
The MDP has a major responsibility to act as the minority in this Parliament. The party has to play a major role in ensuring the rights of the people and holding the government accountable. The importance of the minority has become even greater following the results of the most recent elections in the Maldives.
Although MDP has few MPs in the Parliament, the MPs say they will serve the people through the Parliament. There will be 79 pro-government MPs in the Parliament who will vote in favour of the government. The rest are 12 MDP MPs and two independent MPs.
"Despite the small number of MPs, we will bring [issues] to the attention of the people as much as possible inside and outside the parliament with your [media] help. Not only the wrongs inside the parliament. We will highlight the good points, the beneficial matters and be vigilant over issues that might be detrimental," Nazil told Adhadhu.
Besides Nazil and Fitte, the MDP parliamentary group has Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi as a Deputy Leader. Galolhu Uthuru MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) was elected as the Secretary General of the parliamentary group. Maavashu MP Ahmed Shakir was elected as the Deputy Secretary General.
Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer was elected as the Chief Whip. The MPs elected as whips were Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal and Keyodhoo MP Mohamed Niushad (Newbe).
Following the defeat in two rounds of last year's presidential election and this year's parliamentary election, the MDP has now started a study and efforts to formulate a roadmap to determine its future. The party's future will be decided by the national assembly following the study. These 12 MPs have a huge responsibility in determining the future of the MDP through the Parliament.
This article was first produced in Dhivehi by Adhadhu's Saaif Shiyad.
