In a significant development, twelve Members of Parliament (MPs) aligned with party president Mohamed Nasheed’s Fikuregge Dhirun faction announced their resignation from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Wednesday. This move comes as a blow to the party, with the departure of the MPs along with MDP vice-president Mohamed Shifaz and former STO managing director Hussain Amr.
MDP party spokesman Anas Abdul Sattar confirmed that the fourteen members, including the MPs, have submitted their resignation letters to the party’s secretariat. The MPs who have stepped down from the party include Deputy Speaker and North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla, former chairperson of MDP and Henveiru West MP Hassan Latheef, Maafannu North MP Imthiyaz Fahmy, Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed, Machangolhi North MP Mohamed Rasheed, Kulhudhuffushi North MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, Villufushi MP Hassan Afeef, Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed, Thoddhoo MP Hassan Shiyan, Madeveli MP Hussain Firushan, Gaddhoo MP Ahmed Zahir, and Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb.
With these latest resignations and the recent removal of Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim, another supporter of Nasheed, MDP’s parliamentary majority has now dwindled from 68 to 55 out of the total 87-member parliament. This shift in the balance of power could have significant implications for future legislative proceedings and political dynamics within the Maldives.
