The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) is admitting new members when they sign a pledge of obedience to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Adhadhu understands that the members who signed for PNC on Thursday night had to sign the pledge. In the past, no political party has ever made members pledge obedience to a specific person.
“As a member of the Congress Party, I pledge to work to the fullest extent of my character and ability to uphold and maintain the foundations of the party in line with the policies of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu,” the pledge stated.
While members who join the PNC must pledge to allegiance to a specific person, the Political Parties Act states that the purposes of forming a political party are:
- To convey the needs and sentiments of the people into the system of governance
- Giving people the space to freely shape their ideas and thoughts
- Encourage the country to remain as one despite differences of opinion
- To allow as many people as possible to participate in the political life of the country
- Training and experience for people to run various affairs of the state
- The Constitution provides for the right to contest elections in the name of political parties
- And to connect the people and the state institutions in these matters
The purpose of the parties and the duties of the members are defined in the party's constitution. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s constitution states that the party's aim is to govern the country in a fair manner on the basis of a trust received from the people. It also describe the steps to be taken to achieve this.
Before the formation of the PNC, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) constitution stated that the party's main objective is to bring the development, civilization and progress desired by the people within the framework of holy Islam and the Constitution of the Maldives.
