Monday
29th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Founding members of The Democrats meeting with the members of the Elections Commission.
In a move that has stirred political unrest in the Maldives, the Election Commission has halted the formation of a new political party, 'The Democrats', for the time being.
The nascent party, an offshoot faction of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is largely composed of members who maintain their loyalty to President Nasheed, the existing president of the MDP. However, the president has not officially declared his alignment with the Democrats.
According to Fuad Taufeeq, the president of the Election Commission, the decision came during a commission meeting held Sunday. The commission was split down the middle on the matter, with two members favoring the Democrats' registration and two members opposing it. The deadlock resulted in the deferral of the party's registration.
Fuad Taufeeq addressed the Democrats, stating, "Because they refused to vote to register the party, it is not possible to do it." He also mentioned that the opposing commission members accused him of working under duress. Given the severity of these allegations, the commission has elected to take the maximum three-month review period before making a final decision.
This decision comes on the heels of a robust show of support for the Democrats. Following an approval by the Election Commission on May 24, the party undertook a countrywide signature-seeking initiative. This campaign was successful, culminating in the submission of 3,560 membership forms to the commission on the first of June, well surpassing the legal requirement of 3,000 members for party registration.
The Election Commission's postponement of the Democrats' formation is causing quite a stir, particularly among the party founders who met with the commission on Sunday. They expressed frustration over the delay in granting their party's registration, stating that they would only desist from their attempts if the formation meeting for their party was approved.
Adding credibility to the unfolding controversy, founding members of the Democrats are raising suspicions of political interference in the Election Commission's proceedings. They assert that the Commission may be under the influence of President Solih and Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, weaving a complex narrative of possible conflict of interest.
Their concerns center around a family connection linking Shahid and Mohammed Asif, a member of the Election Commission. Asif, whose spouse is the sister-in-law of Shahid, was one of the two commission members who voted against the party's registration, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Democrats.
Alongside Asif, Member Nashath also opposed the party's registration, prompting the Democrats to question whether these familial and political ties are impacting the impartiality of the Commission's decision-making process. As this political drama continues to unfold, these allegations underscore the increasing tension and uncertainty surrounding the formation of the Democrats.