Nasheed: PNC MPs regret surrendering powers to President, councilors now face same crossroads

Ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) now regret surrendering all their powers to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, says former President Mohamed Nasheed, the chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

In a post on X on Wednesday morning, Nasheed said that PNC lawmakers, who hold a supermajority in the Parliament, had voluntarily curtailed their own powers and handed it over to President Muizzu.

“The MPs regret this now,” he said.

Nasheed said that PNC councilors now face the same predicament.

“This time, its PNC councilors who face the same crossroads. I hope PNC councilors join the MDP in protesting the move to disempower councils through the Decentralization Act,” he wrote.

PNC Majlis membarun e thihbevee e beyfulhun amihla fulhah e beyfulhunge baaru thah uni koh Raees Dr. Muiz ge aiypulhah hurihaa baareh dhevvaigen. E hithaama MP in miadhu kurey. Mi faharu mi dhathuru mijehenee PNC councilarunnah. Alhugandu unmeedhu kuran Laamarukazee Qaanoon in…

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) August 5, 2026

Nasheed’s remarks appear to refer to the introduction of contentious anti-defection provisions in the Constitution back in 2024, that empower political parties to unseat parliamentarians.

It comes after an independent lawmaker aligned with the PNC submitted amendments to the Decentralization Act on Wednesday, seeking to expand the central government’s powers to seize land and other property under the jurisdiction of local councils to run projects.