Hussain Amru, the Managing Director of the State Trading Organisation, has announced that he would not run for the Chairperson's post of the Maldivian Democratic Party after previously stating his intentions to do so.
According to sources, Amru announced that he would no longer run for the post after MP Imthiyaz "Inthi" Fahmy (MDP-Maafannu North) announced his intentions for the post of the MDP's chairperson. Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail will contest MP Fahmy for the post.
The MDP's internal politics have split it between loyalty to Majlis Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. MP Fahmy belongs to Speaker Nasheed's faction, and Minister Fayyaz belongs to President Solih's faction.
In addition to the position of Chairperson, the posts for the Youth Wing and the Women's Spirit divisions were also opened up for election yesterday.
The deadline for nominations for the positions is 1600 hours on 19 February; the candidates would be announced on 22 February. The election would be held on 16 April.
MP Hassan Latheef (MDP-Henveiru West) served as Chairperson of the MDP until yesterday; he was elected to the post on 12 February 2017.