MDP pardons penalties against members over various violations

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to pardon the penalties against individuals the party has previously penalized over various violations of its constitution.

The party’s National Council reached the decision during a meeting held last Wednesday.

MDP’s Spokesperson Anas Abdul Sattar has confirmed the National Council’s decision to pardon the penalties to Sun.

Individuals MDP has enforced penalties against include the party’s former chairperson Moosa Manik (Reeko Moosa) and former member Ali Azim who was once MDP’s top lawmaker.

MDP’s Disciplinary Committee, in its decision to expel Moosa from the party, held that he cannot contend to any of the party’s positions or primaries for at least five years from the date he rejoins, if he were to.

Moosa was expelled from the party during its former leader, former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed’s leadership.

Prior to this, Moosa has claimed MDP members were not allowed to dissent from Nasheed’s ideologies, adding he was dismissed as the party’s top brass was afraid his presence would deter Nasheed’s chances of retaining his leadership post.

Azim has a ban on rejoining the party for at least one year.  The Disciplinary Committee decided that any request by Azim to rejoin the party after one year would require the membership forms from 100 new members. He was also banned from contending any of the party’s positions or primaries for at least five years from the date he rejoins, if he were to.

Azim had left the party as part of the breakaway faction that left MDP in 2023 who supported Nasheed. They had formed a new political party, The Democrats.

However, Azim alongside several other top officials from Democrats have resigned from the party to rejoin MDP. They include former STO MD Hussain Amr Rashad, Mohamed Shifaz (Shippe) and Hasan Latheef, who had been serving as Democrats’ leader.