EC green lights formation of ‘The Democrats’

The Elections Commission of Maldives has given the green light for the formation of ‘The Democrats’.

The commission revealed that the formation of ‘The Democrats’ was greenlighted on Sunday, July 2.

Vice President of the commission Ismail Habeeb confirmed that the request by West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef to form a new political party and hold its inaugural congress has been approved.

Application to form the new political party spearheaded by Mohamed Nasheed, the estranged leader of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) who recently resigned from his post, was filed with the Elections Commission under MP Latheef’s name on 21 May 2023.

EC on June 18 denied the party registration request by ‘The Democrats’, citing issues that needed to be looked into further.

The approval has come after ‘The Democrats’ officials have criticized the commission for failing to hold the vote to issue the green light.

'The Democrats' was granted approval to gather 3,000 signatures in support for the foundation of the political party on 24 May 2023.

‘The Democrats’ party filed for registration with the Elections Commission (EC), with 3,560 membership forms on June 1.

Loyalists of Former President and current Speaker of Parliament Nasheed announced the decision to form a separate party, after the resignation of several parliamentarians who are loyal to Nasheed, from the ruling party MDP.

The new political party, spearheaded by Nasheed will be producing a candidate for this year’s presidential election, slated for September. Party spokesperson Afshan Latheef has also confirmed that they will be producing a candidate for the September poll.

Since President Solih won MDP’s primary election in January this year, the party has been divided into two factions; one supporting the incumbent president and one backing the former president and current speaker.

President Solih is running for this year’s presidential election as the candidate of the main-ruling party MDP.