Fayyaz cites unrest, resigns to empower party leaders

Former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, who resigned as Chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Sunday evening, said one of the reasons for his decision was to give party leaders more space to speak and manage the party’s affairs.  

Fayyaz was elected MDP Chairman on May 23, 2022, defeating then-party spokesperson and former Maafannu North MP Imthiyaz Fahmy.  

In his five-page resignation letter to the party office, Fayyaz cited three reasons for stepping down. He noted that after announcing his intention to contest the party’s presidential primary ahead of the 2028 election, he faced difficulties in party operations.  

“The party has done a lot of work in the past two years as an opposition party against the dictatorship of President Muizzu, but due to internal differences, I see a lot of unrest among the members of this party,” he wrote.  

Fayyaz assured members that he would always put the interests of the MDP above his own. He said he wanted to end the perception that he was an obstacle to the party advisor and president in exercising full authority over party affairs.  

“During the meetings where I met members to seek public input on the party roadmap, I had promised to open up the opportunity to allow a say for party leaders. I am resigning to open up that space,” the letter stated.  

Following his resignation, former President Mohamed Nasheed mentioned Fayyaz in a post on X, commending him for his service to the party and for enduring jail time without hesitation.  

Fayyaz’s letter also reflected on the MDP’s 2023 presidential primary, which saw competition between Nasheed and then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He said many members believed the contest caused deep divisions within the party and contributed to its loss in the subsequent presidential election.  

“At the end of that primary, friends who had spent their days together in reform for many years would not face each other, and this party as a family split and lost the presidential election,” Fayyaz wrote.  

It is notable that Fayyaz remained with the MDP even after the 2023 election split the party and several senior members left. He has never been affiliated with any other political party.