The recently established Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD) says they will be fielding candidates for the parliamentary elections, slated for April.
The party is now open to names for candidacy, and those who contest through the MTD can apply until 9th February.
The party was registered in December, and the inaugural assembly was held on 24th of that month, where members were elected to its governing council and party procedures and logo were passed.
The assembly, monitored by the Elections Commission, displayed heavy support for former vice president Ahmed Adeeb, with founder Asif describing him as a talented and skillful statesman, ‘who should be allowed to continue in politics’.
Adeeb was also the party’s first member and was later elected as party leader, although the Elections Commission has refused to accept this as he is serving a prison sentence and therefore is not allowed to fill positions in political parties or other organizations.
MP Yameen, who recently left the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives to join the MTD, said that Adeeb had worked for the betterment of the nation, but was ‘forcibly removed from office and crushed’.
Yameen is referring to the ‘politically motivated’ charges against Adeeb, who was found guilty of a decades-long sentence, and reportedly prosecuted unfairly by former President Abdulla Yameen, whom the parliamentarian had supported keenly until joining the MTD.
Jumhooree Party aligned MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed, who represents the Dhidhdhoo constituency, had also praised Adeeb, who is accused of hefty involvement in embezzlement out of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.
MP Latheef said Adeeb had always assisted him, although he had never ‘gone to Adeeb seeking wealth, a lagoon, or an island, but always for a matter having to do with constituents of Dhidhdhoo’.
Photographs of Adeeb had been displayed throughout the assembly and the party has been incredibly vocal against the government over its refusal to allow Adeeb leave from detention on medical grounds.
