The Parliamentary Group Leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Ibrahim Nazil, has said that allegations regarding the removal of members ahead of the presidential primary were a big factor in the party’s defeat in the last presidential election.
Proposing an amendment to the MDP’s charter, Nazil noted that such issues arise because the party's governing statutes do not clearly outline the necessary procedures.
"During the 2023 presidential primary, a serious allegation—or rather, a smear—was levelled against the then-chairperson. It was claimed that approximately 29,000 members were removed just as the election approached," Nazil said.
"I can confidently say that those allegations were one of the most significant reasons we failed in the presidential election."
To address this issue, Nazil has proposed three amendments to the party’s charter.
Under these proposals, only those registered as party members three months prior to an internal election would be eligible to vote. Additionally, he proposed that any election must be announced at least four months in advance.
However, Nazil also included a provision stating that these timeframes would not apply to the upcoming National Council elections. He explained that the current National Council’s term has already expired, making it crucial to elect new members as soon as possible.
The proposal submitted by Nazil was seconded by Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer.
