JP's position has not changed, will continue to work with government: JPG leader

Jumhooree Party (JP) will remain a ruling coalition partner, says current joint parliamentary group leader MP Abdulla Riyaz.

While JP is one of the four members of the ruling coalition, it had chosen to ally with opposition ‘Progressive’ coalition for the 2019 parliamentary election.

Hence, when questioned whether JP will be seen as the opposition in the 19th parliament, the Kinbidhoo constituency MP said that the party “is still working with the government in parliament,” adding that its position “has not changed.”

Riyaz, who will be representing the Thimarafushi constituency in the 19th parliament, said that JP will continue to work with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Despite this claim, JP has been an obstacle to passing some of the bills forwarded to parliament by the president, who has stated that out of the 23 forwarded “only eight bills have been approved.”

Its leader, Maamigili constituency MP and current Speaker Qasim Ibrahim decided to ally with the opposition after main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) opted to compete in all 87 constituencies in the parliamentary election. He claims that this was against a coalition agreement.

MDP went on to win supermajority in parliamentary election, after securing 65 seats. Its leader former President Mohamed Nasheed, who won the Central-Mahchangolhi constituency, has said that JP will be the opposition in the 19th parliament as it had chosen to ally with them for the election.

The current parliament will dissolve on May 28, when the new MPs take oath of office.