MDP finally comes to the discussion table

After refusing to partake in discussions to implement President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s Roadmap for solving national crises for days, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has finally come to the table of discussions.

The talks in which all political parties of the country participate was officially started today with MDP in it too. Although the commencement of the talks was planned for an earlier date, Coordinator of the Roadmap Ahmed Mujtaba decided not to start at that date, as MDP refused to attend the session.

Today’s session was conducted at Nasandura Palace Hotel, behind closed doors. After the meeting was over, present reporters saw representatives of all political parties leaving the discussion hall. Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Mohamed Saalih was there to represent MDP.

The discussions were held today evening, and the session was ended around 6:15 pm.

After the session ended for the day, Mujtaha, who has been appointed as Coordinator of the Roadmap by President Waheed, talked to the media, and said that participants had agreed to keep the details of discussions confidential, and that no details could therefore be disclosed to the media.

MDP initially refused to participate in the discussions on the Roadmap, claiming that the current Government has no legitimacy and is a gang of rebels. The present Government, led by Dr. Waheed, was established after MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed resigned on the 7th of this month, on the face of heavy public criticism, protests, and non-cooperation on the side of the Police and Defence forces. Criticism of Nasheed's government were built upon established cases of unconstitutional and unlawful decisions, against statutory law, human rights, and court orders.