MDP must strengthen its internal governance and move away from political practices centered around specific individuals: Shauna

Former Environment Minister Aminath Shauna has stated that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) must strengthen its internal governance and move away from political practices centered around specific individuals.

Speaking at the concluding event of the "Ithubaaru" campaign for Meekail Ahmed Naseem, the Member of Parliament for Galolhu South who is contesting for the MDP Chairpersonship, Shauna stated that she believes this is a vital opportunity to steer the party’s future direction back on track. She emphasized that the time has come to reorganize the party’s internal administration.

Shauna stated that while the ideal time to take this action was twenty years ago, today presents the most critical opportunity to do so with the utmost care and urgency.

Addressing the question of what the MDP's next steps should be, Shauna stated that their most vital responsibility is to hold this "wicked and malicious" administration accountable. She emphasized that this must be achieved through protests and by demanding transparency within the People’s Majlis. She further asserted that the party must continue to speak out, write, and raise their voices in opposition.

He emphasized that alongside these efforts, it is crucial to organize the party's internal administrative structure. He noted that over the past twenty years, these essential matters have been overlooked.

I stand before you today to speak about the vital work we must undertake to shape the future of this party over the next twenty-one years. I want to share my vision for the importance of developing our party into a robust institution. We have witnessed that whatever happens to this party directly impacts the Maldives. We see that when this party falters, the Maldivian state falters. When this party is weakened, the government collapses, and our very way of life is disrupted. We can feel the consequences for the Maldives when the MDP is not in power and when we lack a government of our own. The Constitution is being systematically dismantled. Our fundamental rights have been curtailed, and the progress we fought for over many years is rapidly eroding. Media freedom has been stripped away, journalists are being imprisoned, and the number of political prisoners continues to rise. The cost of living has skyrocketed, making daily life an immense struggle. Essential supplies and medicines are scarce, and the dollar shortage has become critical. Development across the islands has ground to a halt; we no longer see even the simplest of projects being initiated.

Former Environment Minister Aminath Shauna

Shauna stated that the country has fallen into its current state due to the erosion of the party's internal harmony. She emphasized that to prevent a recurrence of these issues, the party's internal affairs must be organized and managed as a formal institution. She further noted the necessity of transitioning from personality-driven politics to principle-based politics, asserting that the party must evolve into an organization that strictly adheres to established rules and procedures.

Shauna stated that the role of a chairperson is to strengthen the party's administration, oversee the regular functioning of internal committees, and enhance public engagement by formulating party policies based on the insights gathered from those committees.

Shauna stated that the party is not defined by any single individual's philosophy, nor does it belong to any one person. She emphasized that the party belongs neither to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih nor to President Nasheed. She further noted that strengthening the party is essential for national stability, adding that establishing good governance within the party’s internal operations would ultimately lead to better governance for the entire country.